The Sensation of Sight

The world can be a wearying place, particularly for people burdened by unshakable grief, and the first place it manifests itself is in the face. The Sensation of Sight is filled with weary faces, not the least of which belongs to Finn (David Strathairn), a small-town schoolteacher who inexplicably begins selling encyclopedias door-to-door from a box in a wagon he drags behind him. Finn is the linchpin in this multi-story drama about personal tragedies and the subsequent despair of those who suffer from them. First-time writer/director Aaron J. Wiederspahn’s script smartly yearns to answer the question, “Why?” Painted in autumnal colors, Sight is assayed by familiar character actors who seem grateful for the opportunity to work on a small, meaningful canvas.

Shelf Talk: As soulful and impressive as it is, Sight will require a push to those who appreciate thoughtful dramas. After the film’s theatrical run in 40 markets, the studio will launch an impressive marketing campaign on online social networking sites as well as on Google, Hallmark, BellaOnline: The Voice of Women, DVD Talk, Popmatters and others. Stress the quality of the cast, which, in addition to Oscar-nominee Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck), includes Ian Somerhalder (TV’s Lost), Ann Cusack (Grosse Pointe Blank) and Jane Adams (Little Children), among others.