Movie Review: 'Blindness' impressive, but painfully brutal

"Blindness," based on the novel by Nobel laureate Jose Saramago and directed by Fernando Meirelles, is never going to be called the feel-good movie of the season.

It's a brutal and, at times, very unpleasant film. But that's not to say it is not a worthy piece of work.

"The Godfather" series gave us screen brutality that was somehow palpable, and it had depressing elements that were at the forefront of the story. "Reservoir Dogs" was at once funny and horrifying. Movies can be that way. "A Clockwork Orange." Need I say more?

"Blindness" isn't quite on par with those movies, but its pedigree needs to be taken seriously. The writing/directing credits are impressive, and the cast is impeccable. Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo are the kind of actors who never cease to amaze. Moore makes "Blindness" work as well as it does.

I will also admit, it's not a movie that can be easily defended. Critics are all over the map about "Blindness." Roger Ebert, who is to be respected, hates this film and he explains why in his review. I don't agree, but I see his point.

As far-fetched as it may sound, "Blindness" borrows elements from "Night of the Living Dead," "Lord of the Flies" and "Wait Until Dark."

The story never bothers to explain why, but massive numbers of people suddenly find themselves rendered blind. This causes a widespread panic ... and worse.

Camps modeled on World War II concentration facilities are set up and the blind are quarantined, while most of the rest of society falls apart in its own way. These are strange days for everyone.

An ophthalmologist, played by Ruffalo, examines "patient zero," the first person to suffer from the unexplained blindness. He also examines others with the same affliction before succumbing to it himself. It's his belief that the blindness is somehow contagious.

In an effort to control the situation, camps are set up and the victims of the disease are systematically rounded up. In the same way the viewer is never given an inkling of what is causing the disease, we also are not ever introduced to the powers that be that are controlling the process of incarceration.

Moore plays the doctor's wife and she, inexplicably, is not blinded. But she feigns sightlessness so she can remain with her husband.

The bulk of the film takes place in the camp where things go from awful to worse in short order. A self-appointed "king" in ward three begins controlling the food supply and demands the valuables every other prisoner has. When the valuables run out, the king and his cronies begin demanding the women prisoners for purposes one can imagine. It's a brutal plot device.

Moore hides the fact that she can still see and eventually becomes the guiding force in the resistance movement.

It's a serious piece of literature, and Saramago's Nobel prize speaks to his abilities as a writer and, actually, a philosopher.

Like "Lord of the Flies," "Blindness" examines what might be seen as the worst of human nature. Just because some lessons are harsh doesn't mean they don't need to be examined.

As painful as the film is, I plan on watching it again sometime.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield freelance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.