Every once in awhile a film comes along that ignites such a powerful emotional response, that the way you view your life and those around you is altered. The new feature documentary Blindsight is such a film.
It follows the thrilling adventure of six Tibetan teenagers as they attempt to scale the 23,000 ft Mount Lhakpa Ri, sister peek of Mount Everest. What sets this story apart though, is the fact that the teenagers are all blind.
Directed by celebrated filmmaker Lucy Walker, Blindsight is far more than just a trekking adventure or a tale of triumph over adversity. It offers a raw and gripping insight into Tibetan culture and what it really means to be blind and to face such huge adversities.
The film shows that Tibetans believe a child born blind or who becomes blind is possessed by a demon. So many of these children are locked away for years and shunned by society"¦.
Until, German born Sabriye Tenberken, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, herself blind since 12, moved to Tibet and set up the first school for the blind.
To inspire her students, she invites famed blind mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer to Tibet to meet with them. But rather than just talk, they decide that Erik and his skilled team will guide the children on the bold, dangerous mountain trek.
The children are breathtaking in their honesty, bravery and humility. They view the world with a clearer insight than many of us and from this, I drew great inspiration. Also, the film poses many interesting questions and has many surprising outcomes.
Lucy Walker has crafted a gripping and immensely moving piece of cinema"¦ one that should not be missed.
I felt enlightened, inspired and all the better for having seen Blindsight 4.5 stars. Blindsight is in cinemas now.
