LAND OF THE BLIND

2006 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

LAND OF THE BLIND

How to describe this oddball film called LAND OF THE BLIND?
It's part political satire, part thriller, part black comedy. Writer-director
Robert Edwards also borrows heavily from other well-known novels,
plays and feature films. There's a touch of QUILLS -- Donald Sutherland
portrays a writer imprisoned for his radical beliefs who ends up using
his own feces to write slogans on the wall. There's a dash of EVITA in
Lara Flynn Boyle's portrayal of a former actress now married to the
head of state. There's a direct reference to Peter Brook's classic
MARAT/SADE. If you look closely, you will find traces of BRAVE NEW
WORLD and 1984 as well as parallels to real-life politicians and historical
figures. Since the head of state Maximilian (Tom Hollander mixing black
humor with an iron fist) is the son of the former President, certain American
families are called to mind. Maximilian also has a penchant for writing
and directing terrible movies which may lead some to think of North
Korea's Kim Jong-il. What it all adds up to, though, is something of a
mishmash.

  Edwards managed to attract top tier talent to his screenplay. In
addition to Sutherland, Boyle and Hollander, the film stars Ralph Fiennes
as Joe, a soldier who throws his lot with Sutherland's radicals only to
fall afoul of them when they are in power. Laura Fraser is briefly seen
as Fiennes' wife.

  The script is ambitious -- to say the least. I enjoyed some of the
film, particularly the performances of Hollander and Boyle (who here
reminds the audience just how good an actress she can be given
strong material).

  The film spins out of control at the end -- the audience isn't sure
exactly what it is seeing on screen -- reality or the fevered imagining
of Fiennes' character. While the film's major theme dealing with the
failure of political revolution is quite impressive, its execution leaves
the audience wanting.

                  Rating:                C -