Where I watched It: Apple VOD

English Audio Description?: No

Cast: Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, and Maggie Smith

Written By: Jimmy Smallhorne

Directed By: Thaddeus O’Sullivan

Sometimes we blind folk watch things that are chosen by our friends or family. That’s why it’s important for us to have audio description on everything, because when the sighted people we are around choose a title that doesn’t have audio description, then they feel bad, and end up feeling like they have to fill in the gaps. So, the decision to not provide accessibility effects more than just the blind people I think you assume all live on a commune or something.

Not that this film would be in my Top 10 list even with audio description. This is the pure definition of “not my thing”. I thought this story, about a woman (Linney), who returns home to a small town in Ireland for the first time in forever for her mother’s funeral, and ends up getting roped into this weird thing about taking a pilgrimage to a French town known for miracles. I’m sure the book was better. With a cast that is as strong as Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, and Maggie Smith, it is very easy to say that all three ladies have made more interesting films, and given more dynamic performances. This feels destined for an AARP Award.

Unwatchable is a bit of a stretch, I’ll admit, but the truth is, there are shots without dialogue, scenery I have no idea what it looks like, and an entire town I couldn’t describe. I have no idea what anyone was wearing. these are things that the audio description fills in, in addition to entrances and exits, or who else is in the room. So, for me to have a film that I am willing to give a final grade, based on the totality of the work put into it, without any audio description, is really low.

But, I will say that with this being so borderline, audio description could literallly make or break this film. I might have suddenly felt swept away enough by the beauty to nudge this in a positive direction, or it might have made up my mind that this isn’t something I’d want to see again. Who knows. I’ll just stick with the typical grade I give films that dare to release without accessibility.

Final Grade: Unwatchable