Watch this when
Notes on Blindness
He recorded himself going blind, and learned there was a whole world he hadn't been listening to. 🌧️🎧
Who it's for
Acquired disability brings a grief that others often rush past, and John Hull's own recorded voice gives that grief room: he names what he has lost, including the faces of the people he loves, without dressing it up.
Feelings it meets
What it is
Pete Middleton and James Spinney's documentary is based on the audio diaries of theologian and writer John M. Hull, who became totally blind shortly before his first son was born after years of worsening sight, and recorded his experiences on cassette to make sense of the change. Actors Dan Renton Skinner and Simone Kirby portray John and Marilyn Hull alongside the real recordings.
Where to find it
Released theatrically (UK distributor Artificial Eye); companion VR piece Notes on Blindness: Into Darkness. Streaming availability rotates; check JustWatch.
Before you start
Heads up: Depression and despair over sight loss.
Age: Not verified (suggested 12+)
“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all –Emily Dickinson, “Hope is the thing with feathers” (poem 314)
