Blindsight

Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Himalayas, the film Blindsight follows six Tibetan teenagers who have decided to climb Lhakpa Ri, a 7,000-meter mountain located north of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, at 8,848 meters.

The title might not stand out so much if it weren't for the fact that Blindsight is a documentary about six totally blind teenagers. It was released in 2006 and was made by Lucy Walker.

The film begins with the shocking realization that many Tibetans still believe that blind people are possessed by demons, causing even their parents to distance themselves from them. As they are also despised by the villagers, they are often completely excluded from society.

Sabriye Tenberken is a blind teacher and adventurer who has established the first and only school for the blind in Tibet. She and her students invited the famous blind mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer to share his story of climbing Mount Everest. During his visit, Erik inspires Sabriye and her students Kyila, Sonam Bhumtso, Tashi, Gyenshen, Dachung and Tenzin to let him lead them up Lhakpa Ri.

It turns out that their expedition goes beyond anything either of them could have predicted.

Blindsight is an emotional story of colorful and compelling characters set in a stunning mountain environment. Those afraid of heights can expect sweaty palms.

The expedition reveals a fascinating conflict of values between the Americans, who are determined to reach the top, and the youngsters' teachers.

To see how the conflict develops and how both sides eventually realize that they have unexpected things to learn from the blind youngsters is great cinema.