Eye For Film >> Movies >> Notes On Blindness (2014) DVD Review
Notes On Blindness
Reviewed by: Amber Wilkinson
Read Amber Wilkinson's film review of Notes On Blindness![Notes On Blindness](/images/newsite/5264_600.jpg)
Notes On Blindness was a multi-faceted project from the start, showing at Sundance and other festivals alongside a virtual reality experience (accessible for free here) to enhance John's words. This thoughtfulness extends to the DVD package produced by Curzon Artificial Eye.
It features, alongside the regular feature - which also has HoH subtitles for those who require them - a series of alternative soundtracks.
![Copy picture](/images/stills/n/notes_on_blindness_2014_1.jpg)
One is the sort of audio descriptive track that will be familiar to viewers with sight loss, read by Louise Fryer in the standard fashion. Showing what a difference intonation can make, is Stephen Mangan's second audio description. Although he is working from the same script, he brings a warmth of tone to it that more connects in a more emotional fashion that Fryer.
Finally, there is an "enhanced soundtrack version" which, in the spirit of trying to immerse myself as a sighted person more fully in Hull's world - and that of the film - I watched while wearing a sleep mask, which I realise sounds a bit odd but was well worth a go. The result is a beautifully immersive experience, halfway between an essay and a radio play, that takes flight from the day to day narrative into more intellectual, less concrete spaces by way of additional audio from Hull.
There are a series of short featurettes also included - Notes On Notes On Blindness, Directing As a Team, Lip Synching and John And Marilyn - all are informative, if brief. The only small shame is that these extras don't feature HoH subtitles, which seems a pity given the lengths taken for accessibility elsewhere.
Reviewed on: 28 Oct 2016