The Inspiration
Our story of Neva is based on real case studies, primarily from M. von Senden’s book Space and Sight, first published in 1932. These cases reflect a window in history of when cataract blindness was not yet being treated for infants and toddlers.
The documentations made by the surgeons and psychologists studying the newly sighted is the evidence von Senden uses for building his theories on what it would mean to see for the first time.
His conclusions as well as quotes from doctors and the newly sighted are the inspiration for the dialogue and visual approach of the film.
“One of the important pieces of information that she imparted to a blind friend was this discovery that men do not really look like trees at all.”
“…she reached down to feel the thing but her hand passed through it. […] She finally discovered that it was a sunbeam. ”
“A black coat on the floor looks like the mouth of a well, a cloud of smoke from a chimney is a great crack in the bright sky and the spots on poor ‘Muffy’ [her dog] were alarming holes in him.”
Joan Getaz case, 18, female. Lincoln, Nebraska, 1928.
“...she is taken into the garden for the first time... stands speechless in front of the tree, which she only names on taking hold of it, and then as ‘the tree with the lights in it’.”
Fisher and Schöler’s case, 8, female. Königsberg, 1888.
“...he thought all object whatever touched his eyes (as he expressed it) as what he felt did his skin....”
Daniel Dolins case, 13, male. London, 1728.
“To the question what he then saw in the mirror, he answered, after a time, ‘a cat’.”
Uhthoff’s first case, 7, male. Breslau, 1890.
“...she repeatedly exclaimed: ‘Oh God! How beautiful!’ But she did not recognize any object. ”
Janin’s case, 22, female. Lyons, 1764.
