Earth Angels: A Different Way of Seeing

Cinema often explores the world through what people can see, but Earth Angels asks whether sight alone helps us understand humanity.

Directed by John Devaraj, the film brings together around 60 visually impaired actors. It explores love, innocence, conflict, peace and compassion through the lives of Aman and Shanthi.

The two visually impaired children grow up together in a residential school. Their world takes shape through sound, touch, music and imagination.

As they grow older, their friendship becomes love. However, their lives change after they regain their sight.

The world they had imagined finally appears before them. Yet, its beauty also exposes them to violence, conflict and war. As a result, they begin questioning the world they had once wanted to see.

Devaraj said the film emerged from his concerns about a world marked by continuing wars. However, he does not offer a fixed solution. Instead, he wants audiences to reflect on what they see around them.

The filmmaker also challenges common perceptions about visual impairment. He said the visually impaired people he worked with did not allow their condition to define them. Instead, he found them confident, honest and unwilling to seek sympathy.

For the actors, the project became a major learning experience. Many had never acted before. They trained for eight months and spent about four hours each day preparing for their roles.

Actor Varun said the film also highlights the used in depicting war. However, Devaraj avoids graphic violence. Instead, he focuses on how the characters react to the world hopes and dreams of visually impaired people.

The film uses green-screen techniques to create its conflict sequences. Gaza is among the references used in depicting war.

However, Devaraj avoids graphic violence. Instead, he focuses on how the characters react to the world they encounter.

Music plays a central role in the narrative. Songs, rhythm, voices and movement help shape the characters’ experiences. The actors also contributed to the dialogues.

Earth Angels has been made separately in Kannada and English. A recurring donkey motif symbolises liberation and draws from the Biblical flight of Mary, Joseph and Jesus into Egypt.

Produced by Artists United, the crowd-funded film also carries a social purpose.

The makers plan to support the education and healthcare of visually impaired people through screening proceeds. They are also taking the film to schools and colleges.

Thus, Earth Angels turns sight into a deeper question: does seeing the world necessarily mean understanding it?

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image published on January 20, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/487852