Idaho International Film Festival
 

BLINDSIDED

Talia Osteen
2006, USA, Documentary, 63 minutes
www.blindsidedthemovie.com
Blindsided  

“My greatest wish for Blindsided is that it will give hope to others, even when hope seems impossible. It is a film Blindsidedabout the gift that sometimes comes through pain; it is a story of love, family, friendship and community. Most of all, it is about creating light when plunged into darkness.” – Talia Osteen

Blindsided is an inspiring one-hour documentary about Jared Hara, a 15 year-old boy who slowly loses his eyesight at the age of 12. The film depicts the powerful story of Jared's life-changing tragedy, its effect on his family, friends, and community, and his triumphant rise above it all.

Originally conceived as a portrait of the unique friendship between thirteen year-old Jared Hara, a Jew, and his best friend, Ali Hakim, a Muslim; the film intended to show how two young boys could defy common perceptions. However, as Jared’s world slowly went dark, BlindsidedOsteen shifted her focus to Jared’s family and captured a poignant rollercoaster of heartache and revival. Intimate interviews reveal the unspoken issues that haunted them for nearly two years. Although the gripping honesty of their words is heartbreaking, their outpouring eventually leads to an emotional and powerful reconciliation. Blindsided begins in the darkness of depression, blame, and guilt, but ends in a new place where the heart, not the eyes, is the window to the world.


The Flicks, Saturday, September 30th at 12:30pm

The Flicks, Sunday, October 1st at 12:30pm