The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic, 2022.
Written and Directed by Teemu Nikki.
Starring Petri Poikolainen, Marjaana Maijala, Hannamaija Nikander, Matti Onnismaa, Samuli Jaskio, Rami Rusinen, and Lassi Poikolainen.
SYNOPSIS:
Jaakko is a blind man who is confined to a wheelchair. He is in love with Sirpa, with whom he has had a long-distance relationship but only by telephone. The two have never met in person. One day Jaakko decides to travel to meet Sirpa, relying on strangers’ help to make the journey.
Jaakko (much like debut actor Petri Poikolainen) is an older blind man with MS. Right from the beginning, the direction from Teemu Nikki (who also serves as the screenwriter) immerses us into his world, whether it be from the ease of access voice assistance coming from his phone or entirely blurring the world around him. The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic is committed to his perspective, making for an up-close and personal look at a challenging life most people don’t understand and, sadly, probably will never choose to know unless they find themselves watching a movie like this.
There is also a genuine effort to characterize Jaakko beyond his condition. He is equipped with numerous amusing movie quips (such as jokingly referring to his assistant as sadistic nurses from Stephen King adaptations). He also has a long-distance girlfriend named Sirpa (Marjaana Maijala), who is ill and can’t actually be seen, but Jaako says he imagines Ripley from Alien. Speaking of James Cameron movies, Jaako does have Titanic in his impressive DVD collection (he lost his sight before the rise of HD and has no use for the format) but confesses to his girlfriend that he refuses to watch it because he doesn’t understand why the legendary filmmaker would go from some of the most revered action films in history to a three-hour romance-disaster epic.
Nonetheless, this is the couple’s routine. They support one another (Sirpa also talks to Jaakko about his recurring dreams of running, something he profoundly misses after losing his mobility). Jaakko is also complacent about their current dynamic, not necessarily in a rush to meet each other. That is until Sirpa’s condition begins to worsen, meaning she might have to start chemotherapy. As such, Jaakko is beautifully filled with a sense of taking back some of his independence, determined to rely on disability taxi services and strangers for help at the train station to meet his beloved Sirpa. Of course, he is bringing Titanic with him.
From there, The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic goes in a direction that catches one entirely off guard and feels somewhat unnecessary given the mood of the first half of these quick 80 minutes. One could also say that’s one reason why the second half is so effective. However, it can’t be argued that, as it transforms into a harrowing thriller about the despicable lows some members of society will stoop to taking advantage of the disabled, this is a heartbreakingly realistic, tense watch. Of course, it’s all heightened by the artistic vision of sticking with a third person and obscured perspective, elevated by a fresh brand of suspense (I had an idea of how it would end, but absolutely no clue how the story and character would get there). Petri Poikolainen is also outstanding, delivering a captivating performance from both his condition and the horrifying situation Jaakko finds himself him.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
