It’s a cheeky title for a severe film. Teemu Nikki’s “The Blind Man Who Did Not Need to See Titanic” is a couple of man in Finland named Jaakko (Petri Poikolainen), a film fan and wheelchair consumer coping with the aches and unintended effects of a number of sclerosis. Unable to maneuver far with out the assistance of an assistant or see due to blindness, Jaakko spends a lot of his days—joked about as Groundhog Days—at residence calling his long-distance girlfriend Sirpa (Marjaana Maijala) for firm. When her well being turns for the more severe, Jaakko decides to journey directly to cheer her up—although the 2 have by no means met in particular person.
It’s a captivating premise that then turns right into a suspense film as Jaakko decides to not watch for assist however go off on his personal to see Sirpa. Sadly, he meets strangers each useful and unkind, a few of whom reap the benefits of his blindness to rob and kidnap him. However severe issues get, total, his journey is a tribute to the character’s dedication and a crash course on how the able-bodied world stays hostile to individuals together with his situation. Within the movie’s earlier scenes, Jaakko is handled to the merciless ideas of passing strangers who write him off first as a drug addict after which about how they’d by no means wish to stay together with his sickness. It’s painful and uncomfortable to observe him take the feedback in silence. Later, in his efforts to satisfy Sirpa, his journey reveals most of the shortcomings of modern-day journey for blind wheelchair customers, like restricted sources to offer help, that depart him weak to thieves. Regardless of the difficulties and obstacles, Jaakko’s decided to be there for somebody he cares about, and that steadfast resolve drives the narrative.
Director, author, and producer Nikki and cinematographer Sari Aaltonen movie “The Blind Man Who Did Not Need to See Titanic” fully from Jaakko’s perspective, maintaining him in focus and principally in close-up whereas the world round him is a blur. His face takes up nearly all of the display for a lot of the movie. We hear voices and noises sharply however we can not see the faces of strangers and even Jaakko’s nurse, creating a way of Jaakko’s expertise and the way he has to maneuver via the world with out bodily context clues, like when somebody untrustworthy is attempting to reap the benefits of him, or just know when and the place to name for assist. The opening credit are written in braille and skim aloud by assistive know-how, and each are integrated into the movie organically to point out how Jaakko can name Sirpa, atone for the information, order tickets over the telephone, and place and win on-line bets. Centering the character’s expertise is pivotal to creating the film so efficient, however when it deviates from these visible pointers, it feels prefer it loses a contact of its energy.
As a skilled actor with a digicam on him all through everything of the movie, Poikolainen shoulders the duty with a stoic grace and a sardonic wit. He brings his character to life, emotionally and bodily, summoning the dedication Jaakko must get to Sirpa but in addition the attraction to flirt along with her, crack sensible about his nurse, misinform his dad, and make enjoyable of his robber’s style in music. He’s emotionally retrained to a degree. However then often, we see outbursts of pleasure, just like the scene within the cab the place he’s having fun with the wind in his hair. It’s a tough activity to maintain the digicam engaged with the identical particular person at such a detailed distance always, however Poikolainen and Nikki pull it off.
The title is a couple of man who would do something for love, even watch a film he’s prevented for many years. Jaakko is a movie buff many people know, with sturdy opinions about John Carpenter, and because the title suggests, James Cameron. In flip, “The Blind Man Who Did Not Need to See Titanic” connects its viewers with Jaakko’s expertise, via each the irritating and joyous moments, in hopes that we’ll by no means sound just like the disapproving voices scowling at his existence.
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