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Black Sun

Written by Nobuhiro Hosoki

 

Roundtable interview with director Gary Tarn and artist Hugues De Montalembert

In 1978, French artist Hugues de Montalembert was mugged by two assailants at his apartment in New York. During the struggle, the thugs threw paint remover at his eyes. In a single second, he permanently lost his sight. Also destroyed in the attack was his professional life as a  painter and filmmaker and his fondness for travel.

Hugues exposes the inevitable things that immediately ensued in the wake of his predicament, such as a shower of pity from friends and the  condescending attitude of strangers. With overwhelming courage, in a matter of months, he embarked on a journey to Bali in Indonesia, soaking himself in nature and all the serenity that life can offer. With his fundamental sense of identity hanging over his head, he jotted down 800 pages of manuscript (which became a best-selling novel called "Eclipse") that was an observation of daily life of his rather primitive surroundings.

All of this slowly engages us in an emotionally and philosophically charged film that is overcoming as it addresses the question, "How can one survive without vision?" Director Gary Tarn invites us into a rare spectacle of a visual world with extraordinary poetic images that suggest how Hugue might see with his inner eye, Throughout the film, a richly textured narration of Hugue's voice is heard, offering an exquisite and simple account of a blind man's insight.

The film offers a unique perspective on how we can react to a life-changing experience by means of a much-appreciated celebration of humanity and being alive. If only life can be this beautiful!

Directed,edited, photographed by Gary Tarn
Produced by Gary Tarn
Executive producer Alfonso Cuaron, Frida Torresblanco,
Andrew Ruhemann.

With: Hugues De Montalembert