After a tragic accident, soon to be police officer Min Soo-Ah (Kim Ha-Neul) loses not only the opportunity to work in law enforcement, but her eyesight as well. Potentially most well known for her role in My Girlfriend is an Agent, Ms. Ha-Neul is absolutely outstanding in her role. Ten minutes into the film, the audience cannot help but feel immense sympathy for the struggles she is forced to endure on a daily basis.
Her character doesn't just look real, but equally feels real too, Ms. Ha-Neul ceasing to be herself, becoming totally immersed in the role. There wasn't a single moment in the film where I didn't believe she was visually impaired.
Moreover, the film excels at showcasing the stigma she is forced to suffer from those she meets, the film ensuring that viewers are not blind to the abusive opinions of disrespectful individuals who see those afflicted with a disability not as human beings, but as hindrances to society.
The feature does not attempt to empower the blind, instead, through Soo-Ah, revealing them to be regular people, attempting to live a normal life. We witness the existence Soo-Ah has been forced to adopt because of her condition; how she is treated by her nearest family; and the affection she has for her loyal canine companion Seul-Gi.
For Soo-Ah however, this desire to live normally becomes even more complicated when she is witness to a hit and run, a case that is linked to a missing person the police are desperate to find.
Jo Hee-Bong portrays Detective Jo, an officer who has no interest in investigating a case where the only witness is visually impaired. When a reward is posted for a witness, who actually saw the hit and run, to make themselves available for questioning, Kwon Ki-Sub (Yoo Seung-Ho), comes forward, contradicting everything that Soo-Ah admitted to hearing, which calls her statement into questioning. Can the statement of a blind witness efficaciously lead to the apprehension of a murderer?
Although Soo-Ah and the Detective originally appear awkward on screen, the chemistry between them as the Detective investigates her side of the story draws the viewer further into the story. Although initially unsure of her capabilities, the Detective comes to admire Soo-Ah's strength, the working relationship between these characters being as well executed as it is engaging.
Despite originally appearing as a rather unlikable character, even Ki-Sub proves to be an individual the audience can invest their respect in. Although his character and the Detective's are well portrayed, alongside having considerable screen time, they each have a limited back-story. Although we can presume to know their history from the limited information we receive, it is seldom enough to satisfy our appetite to explore two of the lead characters in the plot.
Furthermore, greater depth could have being provided to the antagonist. The audience are never granted sufficient information regarding the motivations behind why he kidnaps and murders women, nor do we discover what he acquires from these horrific crimes. Is it satisfaction, power, the Godlike ability to dictate who lives, or is there something else in play?
As the investigation begins to draw closer to finding a suspect, the villain behind it all realizes he is been pursued, putting the lives of those who witnessed the hit and run in jeopardy. The tension exhibited during the cat and mouse style sequences that occupy this feature is terrific, and one particular chase scene, which is beyond expectational, is sure to leave audiences riveted.
The score assists in accentuating even the most suspenseful moments, and the emotional depth provided by not only the script, but the actors themselves, alongside the beautiful conclusion, makes Blind one of those rare films that will keep audiences continuously enthralled.
Although every year sees the manufacture of additional films in this genre, Blind is one sophisticated thriller that no one should consider missing.
