Imagine

Polish writer-director Andrzej Jakimowski’s Lisbon-set, English-language drama gives us Ian (Edward Hogg), an unorthodox and sightless teacher at an independent residential school for the blind. An atmosphere of mystery and distrust accompanies Ian, whose life-threatening but daring caneless walks, guided by minute attention to sounds, attracts the admiration of attractive, reclusive Eva (Alexandra Maria Lara). They also elicit the fierce condemnation of the school’s head. Intriguing at first, Jakimowski’s meticulousy sound-designed, handsomely filmed and slightly creepy movie becomes increasingly more woolly and frustrating. This is never more so than when Ian slips the confines of the school and explores what possible congress there may be between our separate senses during an overly pretentious magical mystery tour through the streets of Lisbon.