European premiere

Blind Love

Local title
Pime armastus
Title in Russian
Слепая любовь
Director
Damien Hauser
Country
Kenya, Switzerland
Year
2021
Programme
First Feature Competition
Genre
drama
Subject
interpersonal relationships, love, people with special needs, poverty, exotics, revenge

This minimal budget one-man orchestra movie takes us to the pandemic Kenyan reality, where pain and jealousy don’t exist only in brighter dreams. Zurich born experimenter Damien Hauser returns to his mother’s homeland with good intentions to expose contempt for disabled people. Acting as director, writer, editor, cinematographer, composer and sound recorder, the filmmaker casts totally unprofessional locals, who probably had never seen any single movie in real cinema theatre.

We are far away from Nairobi. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere with bloody brutal traditions. Brian is blind and needs assistance to reach home from school. One fateful day deaf Abel takes this challenging task. Unable to communicate through words or gestures they develop their own way to exchange thoughts, desires, passions, frustrations and fears in a vengeful community, which heartbreakingly betrays the slightly different young couple.

This unusually gorgeous nonromantic love story arrives in Tallinn after premiere in Durban Film Festival and raises hurtful questions in the striking authenticity of the not so modern Kenya.

Edvinas Pukšta

Director
Damien Hauser
Screenwriter
Damien Hauser
Cast
Jacky Amoh, Joash Shaban Kopilo, Mr. Legacy
DoP
Damien Hauser
Editor
Damien Hauser
World sales
Okada Media Distribution
Runtime
Language
Swahili
Subtitles
Estonian, English
Director
Damien Hauser

Damien Hauser (snd 2001) on Šveitsi-Keenia filmiprodutsent, stsenarist ja lavastaja, kes on sündinud Zürichis. Ta alustas filmide tegemisega juba 7-aastaselt. Aastatel 2016-2020 sai ta filmihariduse SAE koolis Šveitsis, seejärel töötas reklaamfilme tootvas firmas Filme von Draussen. Tänaseks on Damieni pagasis nii lühifilme, reklaame, muusikavideoid kui ka mitmeid lühiformaadi projekte. Kuid tema suur armastus on alati kuulunud lugude jutustamisele. Tema esimene täispikk film „Pime armastus“ on filmitud Keenias, Bungomas, ajal, kui ta külastas oma sugulasi väikeses linnakeses.

Filmograafia Home (2020, doc), Blind Love for Culture (2021), Theo: Eine Konversation Mit Der Ehrlichkeit (Theo: A Conversation With Honesty, 2022)

Best Film Award, grant of 5000 euros from National Geographic

Screenings

9th Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening110701 / Pime armastus
SubtitlesEnglish, Estonian
Screening duration
2nd Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening110201 / Pime armastus
SubtitlesEnglish, Estonian
Q&A guestsDamien Hauser - Director
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Hall Electric Cinema, Tartu
Screening112203 / Pime armastus
SubtitlesEnglish, Estonian
Screening duration
Hall 2 Kino Artis
Screening161602 / Pime armastus
SubtitlesEnglish, Estonian
Screening duration