On general release, Fri 22 Jun
Seungjun Yi / Korea / 2011 / 87 mins
There is still much adversity facing the deaf-blind community in contemporary society. The stigma is likewise viewed as restrictive, awkward and unfamiliar to many people, a fact which spills into discourses on equal rights for disabled people, social alienation and prejudice. Seungjun Yi’s Korean documentary outlines the life of Young-Chan, a deaf-blind man who lives with his wife, Soon-Ho, and the difficulties they encounter in everyday life.
What at first could drift into a sentimentalised and pitying portrait quickly frees itself. The camera follows Young-Chan inquisitively and avoids judging or impeding on the humdrum tasks of the couple. It focuses on the slices of everyday life, the simple act of changing a light bulb, how Young-Chan takes foreign language exams and his involvement in writing a play about deaf-blind people. The most remarkable detail is the system the couple have developed for communicating with each other. Soon-Ho types on Young-Chan’s fingers, like a keyboard, where different parts of his hands correlate to letters. Not only is it impressive, it simply makes for compelling viewing. Every so often, films come along which tell us a lot: about the adaptability of being, the creativity of thought and the value of communication. Yi’s film does it with a fine civility which surprises, informs and entertains us.
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