Blindness depicted inaccurately in film, protesters charge

The Massachusetts chapter of the National Federation of the Blind lashed out last night at what its members believe is an "outrageous" and inaccurate portrayal of blind people in a new film.

The state chapter took part in one of 78 simultaneous protests in 38 states aimed to coincide with the release of the movie, "Blindness." About 20 people attended the Boston protest in front of the AMC Loews Boston Common 19 theater, said Mika Pyyhkala, the group's secretary.

The protesters handed out fliers and picketed with signs proclaiming the film a "tragedy" and asserting that "blindness is not mindless."

The film, based on a 1997 novel by Jose Saramago, stars Julianne Moore as the lone person with vision in the midst of a blindness epidemic that hits an unnamed city. In the movie, the government sequesters all of the afflicted for fear of contaminating the population.

Moore's character fakes losing her sight to follow her husband and becomes the only moral witness to the chaos and depravity that breaks out among the quarantined blind.

Pyyhkala, 36, of Boston, said he has read the book and seen parts of the film. He said his grievances stem from the film's potential to sway public attitude about blindness. He said the movie exacerbates stereotypes and gives false information to uninformed viewers.

"The difficulty of being blind comes from this low expectation of people who are blind," he said. "That causes more problems than any technical or direct blindness. This movie doesn't portray the reality of what it's like."

An AMC Loews theater spokesman said last night that the group kept its protest on the sidewalk and did not significantly affect ticket sales. "It's city property," he said. "There's nothing we can do."

Pyyhkala said the federation tried without success to halt production of the film.

Miramax released a statement last month that said film director Fernando Meirelles, an Academy Award nominee for "City of God," had "worked diligently to preserve the intent and resonance of the acclaimed book," which it described as "a courageous parable about the triumph of the human spirit when civilization breaks down."

Chris Danielsen, a national federation spokesman, said while he understands that the film plays on the public's fear of sudden blindness, the idea that loss of sight is equal to incompetence and immorality is "outrageous" and "vicious." Everyday tasks like getting dressed and using the bathroom do not become impossible if a person loses their sight, Danielsen said.