Watch Black Sun

Black Sun is a 2005 documentary film directed by Gary Tarn and narrated by its main subject, Hugues de Montalembert. The film follows the story of Montalembert, an acclaimed artist and filmmaker, who was brutally attacked while visiting New York City in 1978. During the attack, Montalembert was blinded when he was thrown to the ground and had paint thinner thrown in his eyes. In the aftermath of the attack, Montalembert found himself in a state of shock and despair, unable to come to terms with his new reality.

Despite the traumatic experience, Montalembert refused to let his blindness define him or end his artistic pursuits. Instead, he used his newly heightened sense of hearing and touch to continue creating art, shifting his focus from visual art to writing and storytelling. The film follows Montalembert's journey as he travels the world, meets new people, and discovers new ways of experiencing the world without sight.

Tarn's documentary uses a unique narrative style that blends Montalembert's poetic reflections on his blindness with stunning visuals of the natural world. Throughout the film, Montalembert's voiceover narrates his thoughts and experiences, which are juxtaposed against vivid images of landscapes, cities, and everyday objects. The film's use of music also plays an integral role in creating mood and tone, with a haunting violin score that perfectly captures the melancholic mood of the film.

At its core, Black Sun is a meditation on the human experience of loss and the transformative power of creativity. Montalembert's story is one of resilience and creativity in the face of overwhelming adversity. Through his story, the film explores the nature of human perception and the power of the mind to compensate for physical limitations.

One of the most powerful scenes in the film shows Montalembert on a safari in Africa, tracking a herd of elephants with the help of his guide. Using only his heightened sense of hearing and touch, Montalembert is able to experience the majesty of the elephants in a way that is impossible for sighted people. The scene encapsulates the film's message: that blindness does not have to be a barrier to experiencing the world, but can instead be a gateway to a different type of perception.

In addition to Montalembert's personal story, the film also touches on broader themes of art, beauty, and the relationship between sight and perception. Throughout the film, Montalembert reflects on the nature of beauty and the role that art plays in our lives. He argues that true beauty does not come from the visual realm, but from the inner world of our minds and emotions.

Overall, Black Sun is a powerful and moving film that will leave viewers with a newfound appreciation for the power of creativity and the resilience of the human spirit. The film's use of stunning visuals, haunting music, and poetic narration combine to create a truly unique and mesmerizing viewing experience. Above all, Black Sun is a testament to the power of the human mind to overcome even the greatest of obstacles.

Black Sun is a 2005 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 10 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.