Films for the Blind: Where to Find Them and Which Are the Most Famous

How blind people watch movies with audio description

Blind or visually impaired people can easily watch many films, and even television series, thanks to audio description , an additional audio track that does not overlap with the original dialogues, but describes the essential elements for following the film: the characters' actions and movements, the settings and scenography, scene changes, facial expressions, costumes and the objects most significant to the plot.

Streaming platforms with films and TV series for the blind

Several streaming platforms allow you to access this feature for movies and TV series. For example:

• RaiPlay: has an “Accessibility” section with films and audio series described in Italian.
• Netflix: Many titles with audio descriptions in various languages, including Italian, are available on this platform.
• Prime Video: offers some audio described films.
• Apple TV +: Accessibility to the platform is good, with high-quality audio description.

Most popular films for the blind

Among the most popular films available to the blind are:

• Ray (2004), biographical, musical genre. It tells the life of legendary musician Ray Charles, blind since childhood.
• Dancer in the Dark (2000), musical, thriller. Directed by Lars von Trier and starring Björk. It tells the story of Selma, a blind factory worker suffering from a degenerative disease, who faces a human and social drama.
• At First Sight – At First Sight (1999). True story of a man born blind, played by Val Kimer, who temporarily regains his sight.
• Tail – The signs of the heart (2021), drama, musical. It tells the story of a hearing girl, raised in a deaf family, who dreams of becoming a singer. Winner of 3 Academy Awards in 2022.
• The Blind Side (2009), drama, biography. It tells the story of a family that takes in a homeless boy who becomes a football champion.
•  Blind (2017, directed by Michael Mailer), starring Alec Baldwin. A blind writer rediscovers love and the will to live through an unexpected relationship.
• Daredevil (2003 or Netflix series), action, superhero genre. The protagonist is a blind lawyer who fights crime as a night watchman.
• Scent of a Woman – A woman's perfume (1992), drama genre. In this case, the protagonist is a young inexperienced man who accompanies a blind lieutenant colonel on an unforgettable weekend.
• In the darkness of terror (Wait Until Dark) (1967), thriller, mystery. The protagonist, played by Audrey Hepburn who received an Oscar nomination, is a blind woman haunted by criminals in her home.
•  Peeping Tom – The Eye That Kills (1960). A psychological thriller in which a blind woman is one of the few people to grasp the true nature of the murderous protagonist.

Apps that help you listen to audio description

Apps that help you listen to audio description include:

• MovieReadingAvailable on: iOS and Android, it provides audio description, subtitles, and LIS for films in theaters or on home video. The app recognizes the film's audio in real time and synchronizes the audio description.
• Greta, available on iOS and Android, automatically recognizes the audio of the movie movies and at home and plays the selected special version in sync with the film directly on your mobile device.
• RAIPlay (for Italian content only), available on iOS, Android, Smart TV

Film about blindness, “The Color of Grass”

There are many films that touch on the theme of blindness. One in particular stands out: " The Color of Grass " (by Juliane Biasi Hendel), which tells the story of two young friends, Giorgia and Giona, on their journey toward independence. Thus, reaching the ice cream shop by the lake alone becomes a challenge in their growth. Giorgia is active and strong-willed, while Giona is introverted and fearful. Two different, yet complementary, personalities that come together well in the adventure of growing up. Ultimately, their friendship becomes a symbol of how the "fear of the dark," which affects everyone, can be faced and overcome , even if the rules of the game are changed.

Read also:

• Stefano runs like the wind to avoid resigning himself to the obstacles of blindness.
• Luca and Krenare created the social community for the blind
• Museum for the blind with copies of classical masterpieces

Cover photo by Mikhail Nilov via Pixabay