Film Festival 09 - Blind Loves
Blind Loves
Slepe lásky, Slovakia 2008, 77m
Director: Juraj Lehotsky
Festivals: Cannes (Directors' Fortnight), Toronto, Vancouver,
London 2008; Rotterdam 2009
Wondering how differently love and happiness might be experienced
by people born blind, sighted Slovakian director Juraj Lehotsky has
made a beguiling, mind-expanding docu-whatsit that left me for one
feeling elated. He introduces us to the daily modus operandi of his
four subjects, acquaints us with the loves and families that shape
their lives - and draws us into their imaginations. Miro, a Roma
gypsy, courts the cute Momi, despite her parents disapproval.
Teenager Zuzana looks for romance on the Internet. Elena, a young
mother-to-be, frets about giving birth to a sighted child. The
intimacy and trust developed over four years of filming is evident
every minute, never more so than in the dramatised visualisations
of their fantasies, each conceived with the filmmaker. Music
teacher Peter's dreams of submersion in a Jules Vernish world under
the sea amount to the most touchingly wacky flight of fantasy on
screen this year. - BillGosden
In Slovakian with English subtitles
