O Branco

This short film is an exceedingly well executed work--having wonderful cinematography, music and direction. In many ways, it was just breathtakingly beautiful. This really helped in making this simple tale of a very isolated blind boy come to life. While some might find it all a bit saccharine, I was impressed because it didn't make the kid noble or sad--just a normal kid in most ways. One of my own kids is deaf and I truly hate movies that make kids with disabilities seem super-human or sweet--they're just kids. While the boy in this film does seem to accomplish the impossible towards the end of the film, he still is a kid and the film does have a strong emotional impact.

This film was a sharp contrast to the full-length films I've seen in recent years about Brazil (such as CITY OF GOD and CENTRAL DO BRASIL). While in the two films I listed you'd get the impression that the country is a god-forsaken and ugly place, the setting for O BRANCO looked like a clean, safe city that you could find anywhere in the world. It's nice to see a different view of the country.

I saw this film for the first time in a small Portuguese cinema. It touched me on an emotional level so high I had tears in my eyes. It is truly the most beautiful short film I've seen out of Portugal.

Fredi is a young blind boy living with his mother. He follows a routine life and defines everything in terms of their colors, which he has never seen. On a random Saturday at the park Fredi meets a young girl. They become friends, but his mother fears him having contact with others and wishes him not to leave for the park.

In the span of twenty minutes this film creates suspense, romance, comedy, drama, and amazing character development. If it sounds like I'm babbling, I'm sorry. This is my first commentary and I'm trying my best to communicate my emotion about this film. If you get a chance to see this film, take it! I don't know if a copy exists for home viewing