It’s interesting to look at the discrepancy between films made about disability in the U.S. versus abroad. For starters, there seems to be a greater interest in telling disabled stories overseas than there is here in the States. But that doesn’t mean that an increase in representation is all positive. In fact, in the case of the Finnish feature, “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” the lack of disabled people writing scripts still leads to questionable on-screen antics.
There are certainly good intentions found within Teemu Nikki’s feature. For starters, it’s lead character, Jaako (Petri Poikolainen) is an average guy who just happens to be a wheelchair user and blind. He spends his days checking his social media, playing Keno, and deconstructing films with Sirpa (Marjaana Maijala), a woman he’s met online who also has a disability. The two have never met,...
There are certainly good intentions found within Teemu Nikki’s feature. For starters, it’s lead character, Jaako (Petri Poikolainen) is an average guy who just happens to be a wheelchair user and blind. He spends his days checking his social media, playing Keno, and deconstructing films with Sirpa (Marjaana Maijala), a woman he’s met online who also has a disability. The two have never met,...
- 2/3/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
With the Sundance Film Festival now wrapped up, offering our first glimpse at the 2023 cinematic offerings, eyes are now on Berlinale, which kicks off later this month. Looking at this month’s theatrical releases, it’s an eclectic mix of fest favorites (including the best film from last year’s Cannes and a pair of highlights from last year’s Slamdance), underseen gems, and a few auteur-driven studio offerings.
12. The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic (Teemu Nikki; Feb. 3)
A week before James Cameron’s 1997 box-office behemoth returns to theaters, we’ll see the release of an acclaimed festival favorite in which his Best Picture winner figures into the central narrative. Winner of the Orizzonti Extra Audience Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Teemu Nikki’s The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic follows Jaakko (Petri Poikolainen), a charming Finn who loves movies despite his blindness,...
12. The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic (Teemu Nikki; Feb. 3)
A week before James Cameron’s 1997 box-office behemoth returns to theaters, we’ll see the release of an acclaimed festival favorite in which his Best Picture winner figures into the central narrative. Winner of the Orizzonti Extra Audience Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Teemu Nikki’s The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic follows Jaakko (Petri Poikolainen), a charming Finn who loves movies despite his blindness,...
- 2/2/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
"How are the boys?" "Rambo is cramping more than Rocky." Fandor has revealed an official US trailer for The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic, a powerful Finnish film about a blind man going on in the world. Jaakko and Sirpa have never met face to face but used to talk on the phone every day. When he hears about her declining health, Jaakko sets out to meet Sirpa in a different city with only the help of strangers to rely upon. The film originally premiered at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, and also played at the 2022 SXSW & Sydney Film Festivals, stopping by many other international fests along the way. The award-winning film stars Petri Poikolainen, Marjaana Maijala, Samuli Jaskio, Hannamaija Nikander, Matti Onnismaa, and Rami Rusinen. Not only is it about a blind man who watches movies, but it's also about an experience of a blind mind...
- 1/15/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
A week before James Cameron’s 1997 box-office behemoth returns to theaters, we’ll see the release of an acclaimed festival favorite in which his Best Picture winner figures into the central narrative. Winner of the Orizzonti Extra Audience Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Teemu Nikki’s The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic follows Jaakko (Petri Poikolainen), a charming Finn who loves movies despite his blindness, and his long-distance phone relationship with Sirpa (Marjaana Maijala). When he hears about her declining health, Jaakko sets out to meet Sirpa in a different city with only the help of strangers to rely upon.
Set for a February 3rd release in select U.S. theatres including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco, followed by a Fandor streaming premiere on March 14th, we’re pleased to exclusively debut the new U.S. trailer. Also a selection at Beijing International Film Festival,...
Set for a February 3rd release in select U.S. theatres including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco, followed by a Fandor streaming premiere on March 14th, we’re pleased to exclusively debut the new U.S. trailer. Also a selection at Beijing International Film Festival,...
- 1/12/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Five Nordic features are nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize. The prestigious recognition, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, was first awarded to Aki Kaurismäki’s “The Man Without a Past.”
Hlynur Pálmason’s “Godland,” Teemu Nikki’s “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” “Lamb” by Valdimar Jóhannson, Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated “The Worst Person in the World” and “Clara Sola,” directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, will all vie for the award.
It is billed as a prize that celebrates “a unique filmmaking vision, deeply rooted in Nordic culture” and comes with a sum of Dkk 300,000, shared equally between the director, screenwriter and producer.
Trier, fresh off his win at Saturday’sAmanda Awards, already won the prize in 2016 for “Louder Than Bombs.” It’s also not the first nomination for Finland’s Nikki, previously noticed for darkly comedic “Euthanizer.” His new film, featuring Petri Poikolainen who suffers from Ms,...
Hlynur Pálmason’s “Godland,” Teemu Nikki’s “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” “Lamb” by Valdimar Jóhannson, Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated “The Worst Person in the World” and “Clara Sola,” directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, will all vie for the award.
It is billed as a prize that celebrates “a unique filmmaking vision, deeply rooted in Nordic culture” and comes with a sum of Dkk 300,000, shared equally between the director, screenwriter and producer.
Trier, fresh off his win at Saturday’sAmanda Awards, already won the prize in 2016 for “Louder Than Bombs.” It’s also not the first nomination for Finland’s Nikki, previously noticed for darkly comedic “Euthanizer.” His new film, featuring Petri Poikolainen who suffers from Ms,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The film marks the debut of blind, wheelchair-using actor Petri Poikolainen.
Intramovies has sold North American rights to SXSW title The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic to Cinedigim.
The Italian outfit closed a brace of additional deals for Finnish director Teemu Nikki’s romantic thriller in other territories, including Sky Digi Entertainment (Taiwan); Cineworx (Switzerland); and Cinobo (Greece.)
Theatrical rights for Chile were taken up by Cinetopia, and Eastern Europe television rights by HBO Europe.
The film marks the debut of blind, wheelchair-using actor Petri Poikolainen.
In further deals, Intramovies has sold Francesco Costabile’s The...
Intramovies has sold North American rights to SXSW title The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic to Cinedigim.
The Italian outfit closed a brace of additional deals for Finnish director Teemu Nikki’s romantic thriller in other territories, including Sky Digi Entertainment (Taiwan); Cineworx (Switzerland); and Cinobo (Greece.)
Theatrical rights for Chile were taken up by Cinetopia, and Eastern Europe television rights by HBO Europe.
The film marks the debut of blind, wheelchair-using actor Petri Poikolainen.
In further deals, Intramovies has sold Francesco Costabile’s The...
- 5/24/2022
- by Alina Trabattoni
- ScreenDaily
The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic Review — The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic (2021) Film Review from the 29th Annual South By Southwest Film Festival, a movie written and directed by Teemu Nikki, starring Petri Poikolainen, Marjaana Maijala, Samuli Jaskio, Continue reading: Film Review: The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic: An Striking Experiment Steadfast in Its Emotional Core [SXSW 2022]...
- 3/18/2022
- by Jacob Mouradian
- Film-Book
My definite pick for the best film at SXSW that is going to have the hardest time making any money is Teemu Nikki’s brilliant Finnish feature, The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic. This exceptional experimental work is an achingly poignant, technically brilliant, weird, and absolutely perfect. A showstopping lead performance from Petri Poikolainen as the titular blind man is just one of the film’s myriad assets that are sure to make this a hit with critics and really anyone who has ever been in love. Funny, tragicomic, thrilling, and yet still warm and inviting, this movie has it all and will reward an adventurous audience with a unique experience that they’ve never had. Jaako (Petri Poikolainen) wakes up the same way...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 3/17/2022
- Screen Anarchy
One of Roger Ebert's most famous, frequently used quotes goes, "The movies are like a machine that generates empathy." That sentiment perfectly applies to Teemu Nikki's wholly unique "The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic." The film stars Petri Poikolainen, a blind, wheelchair-using actor with Ms, who is the center of the film's world for nearly every single frame. Nikki keeps the camera almost always trained on Poikolainen's face; the image floats and drifts, and everything beyond Poikolainen's visage is usually blurry; deliberately out-of-focus. It creates a singular experience, as if we've been thrust into the main character's...
The post The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic Review: A Unique Film With Great Empathy [SXSW] appeared first on /Film.
The post The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic Review: A Unique Film With Great Empathy [SXSW] appeared first on /Film.
- 3/16/2022
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic Trailer — Teemu Nikki‘s The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic / Sokea mies joka ei halunnut nähdä Titanicia (2021) movie trailer has been released by Intramovies. The The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic trailer stars Petri [...]
Continue reading: The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic (2021) Movie Trailer: Petri Poikolainen Makes A Brave Journey to Visit the Woman He Loves...
Continue reading: The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic (2021) Movie Trailer: Petri Poikolainen Makes A Brave Journey to Visit the Woman He Loves...
- 2/12/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
"I have a plan. I'm coming to you." Intromovies has unveiled an official US trailer for an intriguing Finnish indie film titled The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic, which originally premiered at the 2021 Venice Film Festival last year. It's playing at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival this fall. Jaakko and Sirpa have never met face to face but used to talk on the phone every day. When he heard about her declining health, he decides to go meet her in another city, though soon she will learn that he is blind and paralyzed from the chest down. The film is shot from a blind man's perspective, starring Petri Poikolainen, a blind and wheelchair-bound actor in a gripping debut performance. Wow. The filmmaker's style is best described as good-willed yet unapologetic political satire of humanity. "He has never see the movie Titanic." Ha! Also starring Marjaana Maijala as Sirpa.
- 2/11/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
In other prizes Mounia Akl’s Costa Brava, Lebanon clinches Fipresci prize and inaugural Green Award.
Finnish director Teemu Nikki’s dark comedy-drama The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic scooped the El Gouna Film Festival’s $50,000 Golden Star award for best narrative film over the weekend.
Its star Petri Poikolainen also won best actor for his performance as a blind man who ventures out of his small apartment and onto the streets to travel by train to spend time with his long-distance girlfriend.
The film world premiered in Venice’s new Horizon Extras where it won the audience award.
Finnish director Teemu Nikki’s dark comedy-drama The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic scooped the El Gouna Film Festival’s $50,000 Golden Star award for best narrative film over the weekend.
Its star Petri Poikolainen also won best actor for his performance as a blind man who ventures out of his small apartment and onto the streets to travel by train to spend time with his long-distance girlfriend.
The film world premiered in Venice’s new Horizon Extras where it won the audience award.
- 10/25/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Teemu Nikki’s Venice and Antalya winner “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic” won the Golden star for best film at the 5th El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt, which wrapped Friday. The award carries a cash prize of $50,000.
The film’s lead Petri Poikolainen won best actor, while Maya Vanderbeque, the young star of “Playground,” won best actress.
Egyptian filmmaker Omar El Zohairy’s Cannes winner “Feathers,” which also won the Variety award at El Gouna earlier, won best Arab narrative film.
Directors Aleksey Chupov and Natasha Merkulova’s “Captain Volkonogov Escaped” won the Netpac award and bronze in the narrative category.
Michel Franco’s “Sundown” won silver in the narrative competition, while Aditya Vikram Sengupta’s “Once Upon a Time in Calcutta” scored a special mention from Netpac.
Mounia Akl’s “Costa Brava, Lebanon” won the Fipresci award and the Green Star award for tackling environmental issues.
The film’s lead Petri Poikolainen won best actor, while Maya Vanderbeque, the young star of “Playground,” won best actress.
Egyptian filmmaker Omar El Zohairy’s Cannes winner “Feathers,” which also won the Variety award at El Gouna earlier, won best Arab narrative film.
Directors Aleksey Chupov and Natasha Merkulova’s “Captain Volkonogov Escaped” won the Netpac award and bronze in the narrative category.
Michel Franco’s “Sundown” won silver in the narrative competition, while Aditya Vikram Sengupta’s “Once Upon a Time in Calcutta” scored a special mention from Netpac.
Mounia Akl’s “Costa Brava, Lebanon” won the Fipresci award and the Green Star award for tackling environmental issues.
- 10/22/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Catalan director Clara Roquet’s teenage female friendship drama “Libertad” and Ferit Karahan’s social drama “Brother’s Keeper,” about Kurdish kids living in fear at a Turkish boarding school, won the best film awards respectively in the international and national competitions at Turkey’s 58th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival which wrapped Saturday.
“Libertad,” a first feature that centers on a bond that forms during a summer in Spain’s Costa Brava between two young women from opposite sides of the tracks, was a recent Cannes Critics’ Week standout that has been making the festival rounds. Pic will soon segue from Antalya to the Rome Film Festival.
“Brother’s Keeper” is based on helmer Karahan’s own experience and follows two friends, Yusef and Memo, at a secluded boarding school for Kurdish boys in the mountains of Eastern Anatolia. When Memo falls mysteriously ill, Yusuf to try to help...
“Libertad,” a first feature that centers on a bond that forms during a summer in Spain’s Costa Brava between two young women from opposite sides of the tracks, was a recent Cannes Critics’ Week standout that has been making the festival rounds. Pic will soon segue from Antalya to the Rome Film Festival.
“Brother’s Keeper” is based on helmer Karahan’s own experience and follows two friends, Yusef and Memo, at a secluded boarding school for Kurdish boys in the mountains of Eastern Anatolia. When Memo falls mysteriously ill, Yusuf to try to help...
- 10/10/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Finnish series “Mister8,” produced by It’s Alive Films and sold internationally by Federation Entertainment, will celebrate its international premiere at Canneseries. The series festival will take place on Oct. 8-13 in Cannes, alongside the 37th edition of the MipTV market.
Starring Krista Kosonen (spotted in “Blade Runner 2049”) and Pekka Strang, reuniting after their 2019 rom-com “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants,” it will see a successful woman, Maria, who shares her life with seven men – one for each day of the week. But when another one comes along, someone needs to go: a young poet, a restaurant owner that likes to party, a former soldier living on the outskirts of the society, or maybe a single dad of two kids.
“It’s a pitch-black comedy about modern relationships,” says producer Jani Pösö. “Maria has come to the conclusion that guys tend to have only one redeeming feature – everything else is total shit.
Starring Krista Kosonen (spotted in “Blade Runner 2049”) and Pekka Strang, reuniting after their 2019 rom-com “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants,” it will see a successful woman, Maria, who shares her life with seven men – one for each day of the week. But when another one comes along, someone needs to go: a young poet, a restaurant owner that likes to party, a former soldier living on the outskirts of the society, or maybe a single dad of two kids.
“It’s a pitch-black comedy about modern relationships,” says producer Jani Pösö. “Maria has come to the conclusion that guys tend to have only one redeeming feature – everything else is total shit.
- 9/21/2021
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
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