LOVE IS BLIND
US, 2019, 89 minutes, Colour.
Shannon Tarbet, Aidan Turner, Benjamin Walker, Matthew Broderick, Chloe Sevigny, Mark Blum.
By Monty Whitebloom, Andy Delaney.
Very mixed responses to this drama. For some, it is a beautifully written and acted story of interactions between three central characters. For others, it is weird, as is the behaviour of the characters, and, perhaps, psychologically implausible.
The central character is a young woman, Bess, played by British Shannon Tarbet. She is working in an optometrist shop, studying in part, the owner very sympathetic to her and hoping she will work in the shop. At home, she is devoted to her father who has Parkinson’s, and played sympathetically by Matthew Broderick. But, a key element is that she thinks her mother is dead, but she is not. She is in the house, but Bess does not see or hear her, despite her father’s reassuring her.
This is the beginning of the implausibility for some audiences.
In the town, Bess is friendly with a student of psychology, Farmer, played by Benjamin Walker. He explains that he is on the spectrum and this is very clear in his behaviour, manner of speaking, manner of relating and interacting with people. He is trying to help Bess.
The other central character, Russell, played by Irish Aidan Turner (Poldark and other television series) works in demolition but has a very low self-image (despite being rather dashing in appearance and manner) and is suicidal.
There are many unanticipated interactions between the three characters, at first Bess unable to see or sense the presence of Russell, Farmer urging her to speak aloud as if he was present, Russell following her and listening.
There are some emotional moments as the father suffers and infection after surgery, goes into a coma and dies – and the audience seeing his wife, played by Chloe Sevigny, dealing with the death and the funeral.
The narrative here does not reach any final conclusion, leaving the audience to wonder about the characters, possible changes in their lives, the possibility for Bess seeing Russell and falling in love.
Someone remarked, “romantic but weird�.
1. The title? As applied to Bess? Not seeing those she loved?
2. The locations, the Hudson Valley, New York State, the town, homes, hospitals, working sights? The musical score?
3. The plausibility of the plot? Bess and her trauma? Her relationship with her mother, her mother’s absence, the crash, best not seeing her? Later sensing her presence? Her not seeing Russell?
4. A story of three dysfunctional people? Their strange behaviour? Their interactions? Farmer trying to help others? His own situation?
5. The background of Bess’s father, love for her, at home, illness, love for his wife? The doctor, the diagnosis, his going into hospital, surgery, infection, death? Her mother? The relationship between the two? The flashbacks? Happy, sad, the accident? Her presence in the house? Her husband talking to her? Her response to being invisible in Bess’s sight? Attempts to relate to her? Getting ready for the funeral? The two of them at the graveside?
6. Bess, her age, optometrist studies, the owner of the store, support? Her relationship with Farmer, over the years, the therapy relationship friendship, touches of love? His therapy in getting her to talk aloud to Russell? The effect on her?
7. Russell, the demolition, his poor self-image, suicidal, the attempts? His work, the encounter with Farmer? The discussion about therapy? The meetings with Farmer, willing to collaborate with the therapy for Bess? The effect on him, following her, listening to her? Yet slitting his wrists?
8. Farmer, on the spectrum, his studies, interest in psychology, therapy, the relationship with Bess and the sessions with her? The encounter with Russell and the demolition? The
discussions, his helping him? His angry outburst? Reconciliation?
9. A portrait of three characters and the dysfunction? Interactions? The plausibility of the situations and conditions?
