Blindness and Struggling Through Depravity: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: a DVD screener of this film was provided by Echo Bridge Entertainment.

Director: Fernando Meirelles.

Writers: Jose Saramago and Don McKellar.

Blindness originally released in 2008, starring Julianne Moore. Recently, Echo Bridge Entertainment has re-released this title for a reduced price ($6.99) and the film can be purchased at the distributor's website. Blindness deals with an ocular pandemic, which seemingly spreads from person to person, much like a virus. Soon cars crash in the streets, planes collide and general pandemonium breaks out. A proverb plays a central role in this film: "in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" (Desiderius). And Julianne Moore as a doctor's wife is your king.

Initially, the virus begins an apocalypse via a blind driver. The source of infection is never fully explained. Impatient drivers vent their frustrations, while a car thief (Don McKellar) takes his (Yusuke Iseya) car. The blind man's visit to an opthamologist brings more blinding light to those he comes in contact with. Spontaneous blindness now spreads to millions across the world and the film begins to settle in to a mysterious thriller.

However, events only get more depraved from here on in. The blind are quarantined; they are then subjected to mistreatment by the King of Ward 3 (Gael Garcia Bernal). Everyone needs food and when you are blind, exploitation can take place. Human lows are reached, as characters (Danny Glover, Alice Braga) must give up everything for one meal every three days. Not to mention, living in excrement must be a real downer.

The human apocalypse is now in full swing; people are just unable to provide for themselves. This film is based on José Saramago award winning novel and the writers seem to be teasing a Lord of the Flies styled message (LaSalle). However, Charles Darwin said it best: "[life is] survival of the fittest." As mentioned before, the real king is Julianne Moore's character, who takes back her title from the King of Ward 3 with a bloody coup d'etat. One figure continually emerges forefront.

Moore's performance in this piece is that of a heroine. Her husband, played by Mark Ruffalo, seems suspiciously cowardly in comparison. Despite some slow pacing, a sometimes meandering storyline, Moore is constantly taking the film in a strong direction Her character also takes the blind out out of the darkness and into the light e.g. freedom.

Blindness is an apocalyptic film that shows what can happen on the other side. What happens when the apocalypse ends? There are survivors and director Fernando Meirelles does a good job of showing viewers the debilitating effects of blindness, through darkened interior shots. However, the film is constantly showing humanity's ability to persevere, in the face of civilization's breakdown.

Overall: 7.5 out of 10 (some pacing issues, the film meanders somewhat, good performances, lots of quality actors in this one).

A second review of this title is available at The San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle):

Blindness Reviewed at The San Francisco Chronicle

Purchase the film for the reduced price at Echo Bridge Entertainment:

Blindness at Echo Bridge Entertainment

Or at Amazon:



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Posted in: 2011,apocalypse,apocalyptic,danny glover,mark ruffalo,movie review,plague apocalypse,post apocalyptic,virus