It would be easy to argue that "Blindness" is a horrible movie. It can be pretty grim at times, and carries the message that the human race has few redeeming traits. You could argue that the source material, a novel by Jose Saramago, is too difficult to adapt for the screen. A quick glance at reviews will tell you that the movie is pretty divisive.

Personally, I thought the film was fantastic. I've always been a fan of films and novels that portray future society as a crumbling dystopia. Blindness does so extremely well. When the residents of an unnamed city all fall victim to a strange epidemic of blindness, the afflicted are rounded up and put into isolation. They are given no medical attention or help, and very little food. As they slowly form their own society within these walls, the darker elements of human nature begin to emerge.

Make no mistake - Blindness is not popcorn entertainment. The whole movie is a dark allegory, and it can be downright unpleasant at times. It's the kind of film that is suited for discussion by sociology students. Personally, I think it is one of the best films of the year, but it didn't make me feel good, or hopeful. I liked it because it made me think about the essence of human nature, and because I believe it will inspire heated arguments about the open-ended questions it asks.