Doc/Fest - Sheffield

Blind since infancy, six-year old Antoine’s world is a rich one; his real and imaginary lives brought vividly to the screen in this creative and memorable film about the magic of childhood.
Antoine is the six year old son of Vietnamese immigrants, growing up in Montreal. He loves the outdoors, fast cars, and playing detective, past-times seemingly unhampered by his blindness, a result of a premature birth. Antoine’s collaboration with director Laura Bari over two years has helped to create a creative and memorable testimony to the magic of childhood. With much of the film taking place from Antoine’s would-be viewpoint, we go on a remarkable creative journey through both the real and imaginary lives of this precocious and unnervingly intelligent boy. Schooled in a mainstream kindergarten, Antoine keeps pace with his sighted classmates, only occasionally frustrated by his handicap. In his free hours, he turns into Detective Dec, using his microphone to track the elusive Madame Rouski. Beautifully constructed, the film is, ironically, a visual treat, enhanced by a beguiling soundtrack that helps realise Antoine’s vivid internal monologues.