After losing his sight, John Hull realised that if he did not try to understand blindness it would destroy him. In 1983 he began keeping an audio diary. Over three years he recorded over sixteen hours of material, a unique testimony of loss, rebirth and renewal, excavating the interior world of blindness and discovering "a world beyond sight".
The film interweaves John's diary recordings with contemporary reflections from him and his wife Marilyn, embedded within cinematic interpretations in which actors play John and his family.
NOTES ON BLINDNESS and the accompanying VR project premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and released by Curzon in UK cinemas. It was nominated for six British Independent Film Awards (winning the Best Documentary Award) and three BAFTAs (including Best Documentary and Outstanding British Film).
"Magnificent... describes with extraordinary eloquence, precision and poetic sensitivity [John Hull’s] physical and psychological metamorphosis"
New York Times - Critics’ Pick, Stephen Holden
"The genius of the film is in allowing us to understand and visualise the world of blindness... A beautiful, accessible and thoughtful work of art"
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The Guardian, Charlie Phillips
"A visionary, lyrical film"
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The Times, Kate Muir
"Articulate, eloquent and soul-searching"
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Observer - Film of the Week, Mark Kermode
Directed by PETER MIDDLETON and JAMES SPINNEY
Produced by Mike Brett, Jo-Jo Ellison, Steve Jamison, Peter Middleton, Alex Usborne and James Spinney
An ARCHER’S MARK production, in association with FEE FIE FOE and 104 FILMS, in co-production with AGAT FILMS & CIE and ARTE FRANCE. Made with the support of CREATIVE ENGLAND, BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE, IMPACT PARTNERS, ARTE FRANCE, SWEDISH FILM INSTITUTE, BBC STORYVILLE, CINEREACH, THE DOC SOCIETY, NEW YORK TIMES and PROCIREP-ANGOA. Distributed in the UK by CURZON ARTIFICIAL EYE.
2016 | 86 mins