Just because you’re blind doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy movies. And just like anyone else, you want to relate to the characters on screen. So it can be refreshing to catch a movie where characters who are blind are put front and centre. And that’s what the following 10 films have in common.
What do you think of these movies? Do they do a good job of portraying characters who are blind? Let us know at insight@cnib.ca.
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Going Blind, 2010
The tagline for this critically acclaimed 2010 documentary is “coming out of the dark about vision loss”, and that’s exactly what “Going Blind” is all about. In it, filmmaker Joseph F. Scott takes audiences behind the scenes through his own journey of sight loss caused by glaucoma, as well as the stories of six other people from all walks of life who are also living with some degree of blindness. Refreshingly, the film portrays sight loss not as an end of someone’s life, but as a new perspective – and a new beginning.
How to find it:
You can stream the full movie online in either described or undescribed format for a fee. -
The White Countess, 2005
Set in 1930s Shanghai, this romantic drama tells the story of a former U.S. official (played by Ralph Fiennes) who loses his sight in a terrorist attack before relocating to China. There, he meets a down-and-out countess (played by Natasha Richardson), and opens an elegant night club in her honour as the pair fall in love. (Rated PG-13)
How to find it:
Watch the trailer for “The White Countess” on YouTube. You can also rent the movie on YouTube for $3.99. (Please note: The videos found through these links are not described.) -
At First Sight, 1999
Inspired by real events, “At First Sight” tells the story of a congenitally blind man (played by Val Kilmer) who has an operation to regain his sight after the encouragement of his girlfriend (played by Mira Sorvino). But in his new visual world, the man wrestles with making sense of the images he sees around him, and begins to question whether or not the operation was a mistake. (Rated PG-13)
How to find it:
Watch the trailer for “At First Sight” on YouTube. If you want to see the whole movie, you can also buy the DVD through amazon.ca. (Please note: The videos found through these links are not described.) -
Daredevil, 2003
In this star-studded action movie from the Marvel superhero franchise, a blind lawyer (played by Ben Affleck) takes on the villains of Hell’s Kitchen, New York, as a crime-fighting vigilante super hero called “Daredevil”. (Rated PG-13) Incidentally, if you liked the movie, you might also want to check out the critically acclaimed TV version, which is available on Netflix in described video.
How to find it:
Watch the Daredevil trailer on YouTube. If you want to see the whole movie, you can also rent it on YouTube for $3.99. (Please note: The videos found through these links are not described.) -
Blindsight, 2006
This critically acclaimed documentary follows the incredible journey of six blind Tibetan teenagers who take on the greatest adventure of their young lives: climbing the 23,000-foot Lhakpa Ri peak of Mount Everest. The teens are led by renowned blind mountain climber Eric Weihenmayer who helps them find their footing (both literally and figuratively) on a treacherous mountaintop, and within a society that underestimates their abilities. (Rated PG)
How to find it:
Watch the “Blindsight” trailer on YouTube. If you want to see the whole movie, you can rent it through iTunes for $4.99 or buy it through iTunes for $9.99. (Please note: The videos found through these links are not described.) -
The Eyes of Me, 2009
This PBS documentary follows a year in the lives of four blind and partially sighted teens as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence at a Texas high school for blind students. Interspersing real footage with beautiful stylized animation, the film depicts not only the unique challenges of growing up blind (like learning to cross an intersection without sight), but also the everyday struggles that all kids face – like dating, making friends and preparing for college. (Unrated but contains some course language.)
How to find it:
Watch the trailer for “The Eyes of Me” on YouTube. If you want to see the whole thing, you can also buy the DVD on amazon.ca. -
A Patch of Blue, 1965
“A Patch of Blue” is a critically acclaimed drama released in 1965 that follows the blossoming relationship between a teenager who is blind (played by Elizabeth Hartman) and a black man (played by Sidney Poitier). This groundbreaking movie dealt with issues of race, disability, prejudice, social stigma, abuse, addiction, and the triumphing idea that, through all this, love really is blind. (Unrated)
How to find it:
Watch the trailer for “A Patch of Blue” on YouTube. If you want to see the whole movie, you can also rent it on YouTube from $4.99. (Please note: The videos found through these links are not described.) -
Scent of a Woman, 1992
This hit drama earned Al Pacino an Oscar for his role as Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, a cantankerous army veteran who lost his sight years earlier in battle. After being assigned a naïve prep school student named Charlie Simms (played by Chris O’Donnell) as his caregiver over Thanksgiving weekend, Slade convinces Simms to take him to New York City for what he thought would be the last great weekend of his life. (Rated R)
How to find it:
Watch the trailer for “Scent of a Woman” on YouTube. If you want to see the whole thing, you can also rent it through YouTube from $4.99, or you can rent or buy it through iTunes. (Please note: The videos found through these links are not described.) -
Imagine, 2012
“Imagine” is set at a restrictive school for the blind in Portugal where children are taught to stay in their comfort zones, stay insulated, and stay clear of the dangers in the world around them. But that all changes when a new teacher comes to the school – a man who is blind himself, and teaches the students to hear, touch, and imagine the world around them, and to start truly living. (Unrated)
How to find it:
Watch the trailer for “Imagine” on YouTube. (Please note: This video is not described.) -
Ice Castles, 2010
Especially appropriate for teen viewers, “Ice Castles” is a heartwarming romantic drama that was originally released in 1978, but relaunched to a new generation of audiences in 2010. The movie tells the story of Alexis Winston, a teenage figure skater who dreams of becoming a world-class skating champion. But after losing her sight in an accident, Alexis’s figure skating dreams suddenly seem impossible to reach. It’s only through a lot of determination, and the love of her boyfriend, that she learns she can still strive for greatness on the ice. (Rated PG)
How to find it:
Watch the trailer for “Ice Castles” on YouTube. If you want to see the whole thing, you can rent it on YouTube from $3.99 or you can rent or buy it through iTunes. (Please note: The videos found through these links are not described.)
What about described video?
We believe that every new movie should be made available in described video, but unfortunately, that’s just not the case. In fact, while we were putting this article together, we were surprised to see how few of these movies were available for people who are blind to enjoy in described video, even though they prominently feature blind characters.
Hopefully one day every single movie and TV show will be released in described format. Until then, here are a few websites where you can find described video:
- AMI TV is a Canadian TV channel featuring 100% accessible content, including a fair amount of described movies. To order AMI, call your cable provider.
- Netflix offers a pretty solid selection of movies, documentaries and TV shows in described video.
- CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Access) offers a range of described videos to borrow if you’re a member.
- TellMe TV is the world's first the world’s first 100% described video on-demand service with hundreds of described movies and TV shows.