Discovery
Tuva Novotny’s Norwegian-language debut is a harrowing, emotional experience that does not flinch from showing how several members of a family and two hospital staff deal with an extremely traumatic event.
There is a long history of films that take the viewer through traumatic experiences, from beginning to end, such as 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (an illegal abortion/rape), Miss Violence (a suicide, and troubling family dynamics), and even Billy Wilder’s classic Ace in the Hole (a 1951 film about a man getting stuck in a cave). With each of these films we witness the trauma, and unless we turn off the film or leave, we cannot escape what we are watching. These films are certainly not for everyone, but showcase cinema’s ability to provide – as much as possible – an unfiltered experience through the eyes and emotions of another person who is suffering.
Blind Spot is remarkably filmed in, from what I can surmise, one shot. This method adds to the feeling of not being able to leave, and also ensures that you do not get a break once the situation reveals itself. Much praise should be given to all players in this film, but especially to mother, Maria, played by Pia Tjelta, who goes the whole ten yards to bare her soul.
This is certainly not a fun film, but the traumatic experience depicted in this film is one that is sadly common to many people. Stories such as this one provide a glimpse into the attempts to understand and to heal after such an event. There is bravery and brutal honesty here, and I do believe your open-mindedness will be rewarded with a cathartic experience, and you will glean insights into what it truly means to care for others.
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