‘A Chance to See Again’ is featured in National Geographic’s online short film showcase. It was created by Blue Chalk Media, and commissioned by SEE International, as part of a series featuring work the organization supports in Namibia. If I had to describe how I’d like to use my MMJ skills in the future, this would be a perfect example; telling stories of inspirational people and organizations making a difference in areas like global health, social justice, and human rights.
This moving piece is narrated by Dr. Ndume, who fled during apartheid, received her education abroad, and later returned to her country as an opthamologist. She provides free eye surgery to people who have gone unnecessarily blind from cataracts. The film uses natural light, music that gently underscores natural sound, and beautifully integrates still images. The images and narration blend to create a lyrical and thematic effect (great example ~ 5:00 – connectedness, dancing, transformation).
Here’s a breakdown of the scenes and techniques:
0:00 Symbolically, the film begins in relative darkness, using silhouettes and available light streaming into mud huts to show blind people living in relative isolation and stillness. The radio announcement they are listening to, for an eye clinic, serves as a hook for both for the video and to get people to the hospital for free treatment. Medium and tight shots are used, creating an intimacy and setting a somber tone.
0:36 Woman is picked up from her bed, shots become wider and lighter as we see blind people being led, by children and family, away from their homes in the village. Movement is introduced.
0:55 Shots in cars and on the road as eye patients are en route to the clinic. Arrive at hospital marked with a wide establishing shot outside, and then inside, where patients line floor mats in a huge open room. Scene closes with a fade to black (1:06) as radio announces “This is your chance to see again.”
1:07 Narrator, Dr. Ndume is introduced and her personal story begins to unfold, with cuts between interview and black and white vintage stills from apartheid and civil war. There are two different interview settings. The Dr. wears scrubs while sitting on a patient table in a hospital room and street clothes in another room that may be an office in the hospital. Both are medium shots with subject looking directly into camera, with depth of field / vignetting used to minimize background ‘noise’ and equipment in the rooms. I thought the black and white photos were strong in illustrating the hardships of her youth and what the country had been through – they also punctuated her statement about different education offered for blacks vs. whites.
2:07 strong tight shot of Dr. Ndume’s hand gripping a barbed wire fence, opens to a medium shot of her overlooking a countryside scene, reflecting on her time in refugee camps and then going to university overseas.
2:49 Clinic setting, we see various shots of patient interactions with Dr., operating facilities, equipment.
3:19 Series of killer stills / patient portraits
3:52 Rack focus to illustrate the nature of the work
3:56 End Scene with fade to black
3:58
REVEAL: removing of eye patches
Celebration: Ululating, smiles, dance
Benefits: narration of what patients plan to do with their new site
5:04 beautiful culmination of the story. Brings together the themes of connectedness and transformation as the Dr. dances alongside her patients.
