Watch Blindness

Blindness is a 2008 drama film directed by Brazilian filmmaker Fernando Meirelles, based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Portuguese author José Saramago. The film stars Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, and Gael Garcia Bernal in leading roles, alongside a talented ensemble cast. The movie begins with an epidemic of "white blindness" that sweeps across a city, infecting the population with a mysterious virus that causes blindness. The first victim is a Japanese man who becomes blind while driving, causing a huge traffic jam and chaos on the streets.

As the infection spreads, the government responds by quarantining the infected individuals in a deserted hospital, where they are left to fend for themselves in increasingly inhumane conditions. One woman, played by Julianne Moore, is inexplicably immune to the virus and is used by the officials to lead the other infected individuals out of the hospital, even though she is not actually blind.

The movie is a harrowing exploration of the human condition, revealing how the basic instincts of survival and the desire for power can bring out the best and worst in people. As the situation in the hospital spirals out of control, the true nature of humanity is revealed through the characters' actions and interactions.

Without giving too much away, the movie explores themes of hope, despair, resilience, and the power of human connection. As the film progresses, the characters begin to form makeshift communities, relying on each other for survival and emotional support.

The performances in Blindness are top-notch, with Julianne Moore delivering a particularly standout performance as the only sighted person in the hospital. Mark Ruffalo is also excellent as her husband, trying desperately to find a way to protect his wife and escape the quarantine.

Visually, Blindness is stunning, with Meirelles using an array of techniques to simulate the experience of blindness, such as utilizing a stark white color palette and out-of-focus camera shots.

Overall, Blindness is a powerful and thought-provoking film that examines the very essence of humanity when faced with extreme circumstances. It raises difficult questions about what it means to be human, and how we respond when our basic freedoms and abilities are taken away from us. This is a movie that will stick with you long after the credits roll, leaving you pondering the deeper meanings and implications of the story.