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Suspicious of “Blindness’ protest, sight unseen

By Eric Robinette | Thursday, October 2, 2008, 01:34 PM

A commenter named Roger asked me about a post on our Celebrity Worship blog, regarding advocacy groups for the blind protesting the movie Blindness.

“I was curious what your thoughts are on this especially since you commented on the similar treatment of “Tropic Thunder” and “Wall-E” with their alleged discriminatory messages. Thanks!”

Thanks for your interest, Roger. I haven’t seen Blindness yet, so I must tread somewhat lightly here, but I have to say I am inherently suspicious of any such protest. Sadly, more often than not, these protests come from people who are only looking at the surface of the movie rather than truly trying to understand it.

I have a very hard time believing that a director as savvy as Fernando Meirelles (The Constant Gardner) would have made a film that so assaults the blind. I fear this is the Tropic Thunder mess all over again, and I fear that the advocates for the blind are reacting without carefully thinking first. If that is so, that cannot help their cause.

Movie columnist David Poland has seen Blindness, and he calls the controversy “Stupidest Protest Ever.” He writes:

“The idea that sighted people in their 20s, 30s and older suddenly becoming blind, surrounded by others who are suddenly blind, would not be disoriented and find it hard to deal with a massive new challenge is pretty absurd on its face …

“Blind people have nothing to protest here … Better to use the sections of the film in which people overcome their sudden, unprepared for handicap with kindness and generosity to remind people that being blind does not have to be a bad thing… but being blind doesn’t automatically make you a saint either.”

Take that as you will. I will report back after I see the movie.

Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Sir Critic muses

Comments

By Roger

October 7, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the direct reply! :)

By SRCputt

October 2, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this

…and The American Carol has a gay joke in its TV ad, and it goes by unscathed. Am I missing something?
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