In a generic city, in the blink of an eye, a Japanese man goes blind sitting at a stoplight, only able to make out an overwhelming whiteness. Unfortunately it’s too late before anyone discovers that his condition is highly contagious and it passes to everyone this patient zero comes in contact with: people in the street, his wife, a doctor, etc. It quickly spreads from there, but no one understands what is happening. The government decides to quarantine people in an abandoned mental hospital. When the authorities come to pick the doctor up, his wife, who is immune to the condition, fakes blindness to stay close to her husband.
As the first busloads arrive, the people adjust to the situation with the help of the doctor’s wife who keeps her vision secret. Everyone works together in this new community, but the buses don’t stop coming. Some newcomers balk at the rules and throw the asylum into chaos, particularly a man who dubs himself “The King of Ward Three.” The men of Ward Three don’t share in the chores or responsibilities, and eventually take power by stealing all the rations. The other wards protest, but the King has a gun. He decrees that the rations will be handed out according to the amount of jewelry and money the wards offer up. When that quickly runs out, the King requests the women in exchange for rations to the disgusting delight of the men who follow him.
These scenes, while understandably brutal, didn’t need to be presented in as much detail as they are. Screenwriter Don McKellar defends them in the press notes: “You are seeing things you don’t necessarily want to see. You want the freedom to look away, to turn your head, but it’s not being allowed. I wanted to the audience to be sharing the perspective of the Doctor’s Wife as her field of responsibility widens.” I fear that he and director Fernando Meirelles are mistaken and that this sequence will likely be the breaking point for those turned off by the film.
Article comments
1 - Nicholas Buchannon
this is the dumbest movie ever made. i would rather punch myself in the dick than sit through that horrid piece of shit. do not waste your time or money on seeing this movie. here is the movie in a nutshell: everyone goes blind but 1 girl and she doesnt do shit to help except be stupid, the end.i hope the producer and editor read this review, if so jump off a cliff and kill yourself. as mike tyson once put it " i wish you had children so i could kick them in the fucking head and stomp on their testicles" so you could feel the pain i felt sitting through this movie, if it can even be called that.
2 - JJJ
This movie was a disgusting retarded piece of garbage. I understand that there is a certain gleeful reverence amongst certain hollywood types for the whole artsy-transcedant-lets-brutally-rape-a-bunch-of-women-and-pretend-we're-really-horrified-by-it thing, but come on! This movie had absolutely ZERO plot, unless you can call BORING-REVOLTING-BORING a plot. I feel ashamed that I parted with my money for this hideous shit. DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE. Instead write a bad review about it anywhere and consider it your good deed for the day.
3 - D
I'd recommend it.
Its not perfect but overall it was an interesting film. I also agree with the above reviewer that some scenes were particularly disturbing.
4 - lloyd moravec
Too disturbing of a movie to watch to the end. Would not recommend it fort anyone with any common decency. Movies of this nature go beyond what I feel is acceptable to the common public. They should have more warnings of the graphic nature of the movie stated for people before watching. Strongly suggest if you have any decency or human kindness in you that you do not watch this movie.
5 - A sixteen-year-old
Although I'd have to agree that it was quite disturbing, and that I had to stop watching it for a bit before continuing, I'd say it was still a good movie in certain ways. The depth and meaning of it was great, I guess, but some scenes are just really hard to watch.
I say, watch it --but be prepared, haha!
6 - A sixteen-year-old
#1 â€" October 5, 2008 @ 22:53PM â€" Nicholas Buchannon
this is the dumbest movie ever made. i would rather punch myself in the dick than sit through that horrid piece of shit.
-- Dude, you're an idiot.
7 - PBH1
This movie was fantastic. Show how man is still an animal. Humans are very dependent on vision.
Although watching the END of mankind is hard. Its interesting to see if a eye virus ever comes like this.
Society becomes like ancient times where kings and tyrants are born and the state of nature is born once again.
8 - HeWhoWatches
Nicholas Buchannon
9 - HeWhoWatches
love the review
10 - Introspective
Blindness is a nice refreshment in the niche of apocalyptic movies. Plot is intriguing, characters are well developed. We see how people can turn into the different persons in special situation.
11 - El Bicho
thanks, HWW. sorry for the delay.
Intro, remind me to politely decline, or possibly arrive late, when you serve refreshments at your place
12 - anon
Even if you pretend Julianne Moore's character is also blind, it's still ridiculous.
This movie is full of plot holes and unrealistic. Doesn't really step into the shoes of what it really is being a blind person.
The only thing this movie says is how stupid and ignorant some people are.(like the original creators of this film)
13 - Zanes10
I just "happened" upon this movie today on cable. The point of the movie can get lost if you pay too much attention to the "visuals" or its' surface.
The point of the movie is simple, like someone here already pointed out: it shows just how fragile society is. We walk a fine line and it was interesting that while the people were in the asylum, they still tried to maintain some form of leader/subordinate positions.
A famous comedian stated that to see complete anarcy,then just abruptly get rid of electricity.
Although it was hard to watch at points, I appreciate what the movie tried to do.