Screened as part of NZIFF 2009

Blind Loves 2008

Slepe lásky

Directed by Juraj Lehotský

This playful, beguilingly mind-expanding doco investigates how differently love and happiness are experienced by its four engaging subjects who were all born blind. “Ingenious, touching and delightfully odd.” — Eye Weekly

Slovakia In Slovak with English subtitles
77 minutes 35mm

Director

Producers

Marko Škop
,
Ján Meliš
,
František Krähenbiel
,
Juraj Chlpík
,
Juraj Lehotský

Screenplay

Juraj Lehotský
,
Marek Lešèák

Photography

Juraj Chlpík

Editor

František Krähenbiel

Sound

Marián Gregorovic
,
František Krähenbiel

With

Peter Kolesár
,
Iveta Koprdová
,
Miro Daniel
,
Monika Brabcová
,
Jolana Danielová
,
Anna Brabcová
,
Zuzana Pohánková
,
Radoslava Badinková

Festivals

Cannes (Directors' Fortnight), Toronto, Vancouver, London 2008; Rotterdam 2009

Elsewhere

Wondering how differently love and happiness might be experienced by people born blind, sighted Slovakian director Juraj Lehotský has made a beguiling, mind-expanding docu-whatsit that left me for one feeling elated. He introduces us to the daily modus operandi of his four subjects, acquaints us with the loves and families that shape their lives – and draws us into their imaginations. Miro, a Roma (gypsy), courts the cute Momi, despite her parents' disapproval. Teenager Zuzana looks for romance on the Internet. Elena, a young mother-to-be, frets about giving birth to a sighted child. The intimacy and trust developed over four years of filming is evident every minute, never more so than in the dramatised visualisations of the subjects' fantasies, each conceived with the filmmaker. Music teacher Peter's dreams of submersion in a Jules Verne-ish world under the sea amount to the most touchingly wacky flight of fantasy on screen this year. — BG