The Canadian Federation of the Blind will on Friday picket a Victoria screening of Blindness, the Canada/Brazil/Japan coproduction written by and featuring Toronto’s Don McKellar. The move follows Thursday’s announcement by the group’s U.S. counterpart, the Baltimore-based National Federation of the Blind, that it will stage protests in as many as 80 cities across the U.S.

Blindness depicts the outbreak of contagious, instantaneous loss of vision and explores the chaotic fallout as society breaks down. The lead character, played by Julianne Moore, is the only person who retains her vision.

Adapted by McKellar from the novel by Portuguese novelist José Saramago and directed by Fernando Meirelles, the film opened the Cannes Film Festival and screened at TIFF, AFF and VIFF. It opens wide in North America on Friday via Alliance Films in Canada and Miramax in the U.S.

‘This outrageous and offensive movie reinforces society’s fears and misconceptions about the blind and harms the public image of blind people. It will diminish opportunities for employment, social acceptance and success,’ said CFB president Elizabeth Lalonde in a statement.

Speaking with Playback Daily, Lalonde acknowledged the story’s use of blindness is metaphorical. But, she countered, ‘Blindness is used as a metaphor for ignorance and inability. A sighted person watching the movie is looking at people who are unable to care for themselves. Can you imagine an employer watching that movie: would you hire a blind person if they came into your office the next day?’

McKellar, who also plays one of the suddenly blind in the film, says the protest was not unexpected. The 50,000-strong American group had protested the book as well as the start of production.

‘The book’s humanity and respect for human dignity was what drew [me], and I hope that is reflected in the film,’ he says. ‘It’s not a sentimental view of blindness. When I spoke with Saramago he was very clear that the blindness is not an issue of morality.’ He compared the situation in the film with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. ‘Some of those people in the Superdome sank to the depths and others rose to heroic heights.’

The CFB is based in Victoria.