Imagine a world of complete darkness. People roam about day and night in search of food, shelter and loved ones. The towns are littered with trash and reek of human bile. Decomposed corpses lie on the sidewalks as the once flourishing world falls victim to a sudden unprecedented plague. Luckily, all this has been contained within a small quarantine zone, where all who are infected must go.
Now imagine that you are the lone person in the quarantine zone that is immune to the illness. While others continue to slip off into the dark and ruthless world, you continue to see light, lying as the bare witness of what is actually occurring around you. For one doctor's wife, this has become her life.
Day and night she cares for her husband, pretending to be blind for fear of the government's backlash. But as time progresses and conditions become worst, the once peaceful building has made way for inhumane tactics. Women offer up their bodies in exchange for food; while men sit in shame for what they are hearing. A catastrophic ending is forthcoming, that is without question; but with her unknown ability to see, this lonely woman feels an obligation to revolt and lead her new friends out of the quarantine and into a safe and serene environment.
Captured by acclaimed director Fernando Meirelles, Blindness is a daunting and destructive film that provides so much power and emotion that you can't help but appreciate it for its beauty, regardless of how inhumane it may be. The cinematography is simply stunning as Meirelles is able to convert a world of peace and tranquility into one of deprivation and manslaughter. The quarantine is a place of rape, inequality and pure hell, sending a message to those watching, that in a time of chaos and destruction, this scenario is not only possible "“ but likely.
The film's cinematography is astonishing as it transforms a world of wealth and innovation into a site for sore eyes. The streets are crumbled, unkept, and most of all, the world is in a state of chaos. And though it is easy to say it with little visual help, Blindness goes beyond the call of duty as it brings the unsightly images to the forefront and treats it as a central character for the artistic film.
Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore gives a gripping, bone-chilling performance as the doctor's wife. Using distraught and helpless emotions, Moore tells more through her body language than through any other means. Her life has become a living hell and there seems to be no way out. She is stressed, tired and troubled as she continues to cope with the situation, knowing that no matter what happens, she will never be able to forget the sights in which she has seen.
At her side is Mark Ruffalo, an underappreciated actor who proves his talent and need for respect in his portrayal of the doctor. Using intense emotions and lifeless antics, Ruffalo represents a man who is loving to an extent, but can't seem to find a common bond with his wife as they are each forced to manage with different sides to the same situation. He is oblivious to the conditions and the hardships that his wife is going through, and somewhere along the way he forgets that it is all in an effort to please him.
Unlike Moore, Ruffalo is more of a vocal actor within the confines of the story. Staged with a growing anxiety and frustration, the doctor has a difficult time adjusting to his new way of life, working hard to soothe those around him, but venturing further away from his wife in the process. His animosity towards his new condition is his biggest hurdle of all, and even though his wife is there to help, he often wishes that she weren't.
But much like his co-star, Ruffalo gives a stirring performance; easily the best of his career, as his every movie is well thought-out, proving a fluid transition between scenes and an ideal counterpart to Moore. Together, the two actors share a strong bond of understanding and precision, allowing the film to propel far beyond its preconceived potential as it rocks the mind and soul of all those watching.
But most of all, the film drives on its story. Tackling the inhumane and ungodly acts performed on those contaminated with the plague, Fernando Meirelles and his stars show the turmoil that can easily result from an unknown occurrence. The hysteria, the discomfort, the unknowing; it all scares us; and though many will be turned off by the film's ghostly tone and disgusting range of events, it is these events that help prove a point and send the vital message. The film is unsightly, disturbing even, but it is a work of artistic beauty that will leave you breathless as your mind works to sort out the details and process the merciless and appalling visuals that you just witnessed.
