‘Blindness’ movie angers blind people
p2pnet news view | Movies:- A new movie focuses on the panic which results when a virus turns people blind.
But the portrayal of blind people in the Disney flick as “incompetent, filthy, vicious and depraved,” and unable to do simple things such as dressing, bathing and finding the bathroom is deplorable, says Canadian Federation of the Blind president Elizabeth Lalonde.
“It depicts ignorance, incompetence and inability,” the Canwest News Service as her saying, “and in this movie it’s taken to the worst extremes,” she says.
“I’m a blind person and I live this every day and to see it portrayed in such a demeaning, horrible way is upsetting.”
Federation protesters turned up outside a cinema in Victoria on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, last night, says the story, but not to urge a boycott.
Instead, they wanted to, “provide educational information and another perspective filmgoers might not have thought about,” says Canwest.
“Blindness doesn’t have to be this tragedy that unfortunately society makes it out to be,” she said. “It’s based on fear.”
Lalonde also, “rejected claims that the film is a metaphor for blindness to the human condition,” observing:
“If they had picked any other minority group, like African-Americans or Jewish people, it would not and should not be tolerated.
But the flick, Blindness, is a, “courageous parable about the triumph of the human spirit when civilization breaks down,” according to Disney, says the story.
The novel’s author originally refused to sell rights for a film adaptation, not wanting it to fall into the wrong hands, says the Wikipedia.
Canwest News Service – Blind protest controversial film about sight-loss, October 3, 2008
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October 4th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Jon:
The post is severely truncated.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:10 am
” But the portrayal of blind people in the Disney flick as “incompetent, filthy, vicious and depraved,” and unable to do simple things such as dressing, bathing and finding the bathroom is deplorable, says Canadian Federation of the Blind president Elizabeth Lalonde. ”
Haven’t seen the movie, but it occurs to me …
If suddenly a majority of the population goes blind, this kind
of thing is EXACTLY what could happen.
Yes, the blind can take care of themselves , but after a period of time and
adjustment. If I suddenly went blind I WOULD have trouble with all of the
things mentioned in the article.
This is pretty dam ridiculous.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:11 am
@ Henry, Fixed. Thanks.
I live on Vancouver Island and I’m surrounded by mountains. Today, the weather is bad and I’ve noticed before, when atmospheric conditions deteriorate, my Wi-Fi connection keeps dropping. I’m going to switch back to hardwire — for work anyway.
Cheers!
October 4th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Bwahahahahah….I read about the planned protests last week and couldn’t quite believe what I was reading. First, the book is an alegory for the fall, inevitable corruption, and rebirth of society, and, incidentally, a Nobel Prize winner. All of which these clowns would know if they had bothered to read the thing, which the spokesman admits, they haven’t. Second, no, sorry, the blind cannot take care of themselves. No matter how PC we love to be in Canada, the blind are able to manage day to day only becuase of the exisitence and work of sighted people who accomadate them, and help them order their world in such a way that they can function. And, as the first poster said, even that takes time and practice. Third, this book has been in english translation (and braille, incidentally) for thirteen years now. Where was this uproar when it might have been relevant? Fourth, a boycot…of a film (read that again…A FILM)….by the blind. You have to be kidding me. Who exactly is that supposed to inconvienience? Too bad the movie is, by all accounts, a botched abortion of a film.
October 4th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
“Blindness doesn’t have to be this tragedy that unfortunately society makes it out to be,” she said. “It’s based on fear.”
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I wouldn’t be able to live if I suddenly went blind. How would I know if I’ve dropped a bit of food onto the rug? Or if the bread is starting to get moldy? How would I read the directions on the back of a package of food? Or tell what demonimation my money is?
October 6th, 2008 at 7:01 am
I was all set to make a long comment, but after reading the post by ‘The One Eyed Man’ I see I don’t need to as he seems to have covered all bases quite eloquently. I especially liked his point about being politically correct. Makes me wonder just how well the blind would be able to function if absolutely everyone around them were suddenly blind as well, especially the more time goes by.
I have nothing against blind people and in fact my best friend falls just short of being legally blind himself. I just think this whole thing smacks of being completely fatuous. When you fly off the handle, ill-informed and without a clear picture of the reality of the situation (ie: the big picture), you often end up looking like a jackass and this story is a perfect case in point. I wouldn’t be the least surprised if their outrage was based solely upon the trailer and/or title rather than a viewing of the actual movie. I especially like her comment about African-Americans and Jewish people. Would a movie where everyone was suddenly dark skinned or of a different faith even work? No, wait… I can see that being used in Disaster Movie II lol. Talk about silly.
Speaking from my own perspective, as I’ve only seen the trailer so far, this movie sounds like a really great idea and I’m looking forward to seeing it. I know I wouldn’t be able to function if I found myself suddenly blind along with everyone else around me. If you really want to know what reaction most people with decent vision would truly have, go have a talk with all of the folks who’ve ended up in the emergency room within the past few years due exactly to sudden blindness, finding themselves being diagnosed as having diabetes (a common cause). I’ll bet you anything the answers most often given will run from startled to terrified.
Hmm… ended up being a long comment anyways. Sorry about that. Can’t seem to help it when I’ve been irked.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
if you are blind how did you find out abuot this movie, or what is in it and how they potray blind people. also get over it, the movie wasnt an atack on you. it was for entertainment.
October 16th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I guess you did not understand that in the movie/book the blindness they are referring to is not about being unable to see with the eyes, but a totally dissability of seeing what human beings are capable of doing when they are in totally lost of common sense, how people ignore several facts in live, like people dying because they have no food, how people tends to ignore reallity, and its definetly not about being unable to see, its a metaphore, and you should not get so sensitive and take it this way….
think! people have to think!!!!!!!!!!
November 11th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
The One Eyed Man and irate pirate forgot to ad something. people that are able to see were also taught things that they would not have learned by them selvs. so, before speaking about someone else, they should look at them selvs and what they have. We all have had somebody help us out in some way or another.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:06 am
I HATED THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!
I s not realistic.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:39 pm
You need to look at this from the perspective of a blind person. I thought it was a little ridiculous that blind people were protesting the movie, but then I heard that the people who went blind in this movie were doing deplorable things and it all made sense. It was making people look like savages when they went blind — which people who do go blind later on in life aren’t like that. If a movie was made about your religion or something else that hits close to home for you making those types of people look completely incompetent and deplorable, then I’m pretty sure you would be pissed too. You would want people to know that that’s now really what those types of people are like. This is exactly what blind people are doing. They don’t want other people to think they are completely worthless, because they definitely aren’t. So how about putting yourself in their shoes and looking it at from their perspective.
And like Danny said, everyone has to depend on someone else in some way or another. Unless you’re living out in the boonies and not using any modern technology or anything, then you’re dependent upon someone, and I’m pretty sure some blind person out there is doing work for you in some form or another…
March 15th, 2009 at 12:33 am
I hated the movie so much. It makes me ill especially the part were the women had to sell their body for food. Jullienne Moore’s character should have done something before that happend. Because the fact that she could see.. I was so upset;-(
July 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Can someone explain to me how a blind person can complain about a movie they didn’t like. Anyone?
September 8th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
hi right, I AM BLIND what do you mean can someone explain to me how someone who is blind complains about a movie they didn’t like, sireusly think use your brain i just don’t understand people like you. your stupid infact all of the people like you are stupid.
i have not seen the movie and if i do well if i like it i like it, if i hate it i hate it. how could someone blind complain about a movie well like this.
i really really like the matrix but this is just a exsample.
i hated the voices the sound afex didn’t even sound right. oh here’s one for you. the audio description was crap. for anyone who doesn’t no what audio description is. i should say go google it but i wont. it is a track that plays a long with the movie it tells the blind persun waht is going on.
so to answer your question that is how someone complains about a movie. see anyone can do it. blind deff in a willchair anyone can do it. some of you sightys have to think some times. just because i am blind doesn’t mean i can not do things. believe me deff and people in willchairs can do just as good as us people who can here and who can walk. right rant over i think i’ll let you read this and think next time
thanks for reading.
September 8th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
hah now i feel bad. okay your not stupid just think sometimes