Blind is a 2014 Norwegian drama film written and directed by Eskil Vogt. The film premiered in-competition in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on 19 January.[1] Vogt received the Screenwriting Award for Blind at Sundance.[2][3] The film was later screened in the Panorama section of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival,[4] and was nominated for the 2014 Nordic Council Film Prize.[5]

Blind
Film poster
Directed byEskil Vogt
Written byEskil Vogt
Produced bySigve Endresen
Hans-Jørgen Osnes
CinematographyThimios Bakatakis
Edited byJens Christian Fodstad
Music byHenk Hofstede
Production
companies
Lemming Film
Motlys
Distributed byCinéart
Release dates
  • 17 January 2014 (2014-01-17) (Sundance)
  • 26 February 2014 (2014-02-26) (Norway)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryNorway
LanguageNorwegian

Plot

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Forsaken in a brand-new apartment in Oslo, frail author Ingrid is trying to come to terms with losing her eyesight in mid-life. Fearful of venturing out on her own, Ingrid retreats into an elaborate fantasy bubble, on the verge of convincing herself that her architect husband is spying on her. A faint tapping or an unfamiliar sound are enough to incite her paranoia while reality and imagination begin to blur.

Cast

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Reception

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Blind received positive reviews upon its premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports a 92% positive score based on 37 reviews, with an average rating of 7.55/10.[6] It also has a score of 83/100 on Metacritic based on 14 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[7]

Scott Foundas of Variety, said in his review that "ace Norwegian scribe Eskil Vogt makes a sparkling directorial debut with an alternately tragic and playful tale of a blind authoress".[8] Boyd van Hoeij in his review for The Hollywood Reporter called the film "an ambitiously constructed screenplay translates into a film that's easier to admire than to love".[9] William Bibbiani from CraveOnline praised the film by saying that "Blind exists as a nebulous construction, ever shifting but ultimately centered around a lovely and funny love-quadrangle with curious characters and consistent insight. The film's curious blend of the sensual and the cerebral manages to engage even when you begin to lack confidence about whether anything is actually happening at all".[10]

Accolades

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Blind won the Screenwriting Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2014 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Eskil Vogt Nominated
Screenwriting Award: World Cinema Dramatic Eskil Vogt Won
Berlin International Film Festival[11] Label Europa Cinemas Eskil Vogt Won

References

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  1. ^ "Sundance 2014: World Cinema Dramatic Competition". Deadline Hollywood. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Sundance: 'Whiplash' & 'Rich Hill' Win Grand Jury Awards; Dramatic Directing Goes To Cutter Hodierne For 'Fishing Without Nets'". Deadline Hollywood. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  3. ^ "'Whiplash' Owns the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Awards Netting Two Top Prizes". IndieWire. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Panorama 2014: Selection of Fictional Features for Main Programme and Panorama Special Now Complete". berlinale. Archived from the original on 20 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  5. ^ "The Nordic Council Film Prize 2014 - Five Nominations Announced". nordiskfilmogtvfond.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Blind (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Blind (2015) Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  8. ^ Foundas, Scott (18 January 2014). "Sundance Film Review: 'Blind'". Variety. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  9. ^ van Hoeij, Boyd (18 January 2014). "Blind: Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  10. ^ Bibbiani, William (19 January 2014). "Sundance 2014 Review: Blind". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Berlin: Norwegian Drama 'Blind' Wins European Cinema Labels Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
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