Notes on Blindness is a 2016 British documentary film directed by Peter Middleton and James Spinney. The film profiles writer and theologian John M. Hull, who became totally blind after decades of steadily deteriorating vision. To help him make sense of the upheaval in his life, Hull began documenting his experiences on audio cassette and wrote his autobiography Touching the Rock: An Experience of Blindness in 1990.[1]

Notes on Blindness
British release poster
Directed by
  • Pete Middleton
  • James Spinney
Produced by
  • Mike Brett
  • Jo Jo Ellison
  • Steve Jamison
  • Pete Middleton
  • James Spinney
  • Alex Usborne
CinematographyGerry Floyd
Edited byJulian Quantrill
Music by
  • James Ewers
  • Noah Wood
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 24 January 2016 (2016-01-24) (Sundance)
  • 1 July 2016 (2016-07-01) (UK)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The film won the British Independent Film Award for Best Documentary and received nominations for Best Director, Breakthrough Producer, Best Achievement in Craft (Joakim Sundström for sound) and the Douglas Hickox Award.[2] At the 70th British Academy Film Awards, the film was nominated for Best British Film, Best Documentary and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.[3] It was pitched at Sheffield Doc/Fest's 2012 MeetMarket.[4]

Dan Renton Skinner and Simone Kirby depict John Hull and Marilyn Hull respectively in the film.

"Notes on Blindness: Into Darkness" won a XR Peabody Award in 2021.

References edit

  1. ^ Robey, Tim (30 June 2016). "Notes on Blindness is one of the most eye-opening documentaries you'll see all year - review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  2. ^ Barraclough, Leo (11 November 2016). "Ken Loach's 'I, Daniel Blake' Leads British Independent Film Awards Race". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. ^ Lodderhose, Diana (9 January 2017). "BAFTA Nominations: 'La La Land' Leads With 11; 'Arrival,' 'Nocturnal Animals' Nab 9 Each – Full List & Notable Omissions". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Notes on Blindness: Into Darkness, a Film and VR Autopsy". Sheffield DocFest Podcast (Podcast). 28 October 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2024.

External links edit