“The Best and Most Beautiful Things” is a wonderful film about the journey of a legally blind woman with high functioning Asperger’s Syndrome, and her inability to let anything stand in the way of her drive and ambition to chase her dreams.
The film starts as Michelle is finishing school at the famed Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown. Entering a world where 75% of the blind are unemployed, Michelle wants the independence to forge ahead on her own. The sharp, funny, and quick witted Michelle navigates everything that comes her way.
Against all odds – she looks for work to be able to prove to her support system that she’s capable of success. Ever the outcast, the film delves into Michelle’s foray of self discovery as she finds a sense of belonging in the kink/fetish/BDSM community.
The cinematographers made some amazing choices in the way the the film was shot. Using shallow depth of field, and tilt shift lenses, it gives the audience a glimpse through Michelle’s eyes. In one exceptional moment, Michelle can’t find her backpack, tearing up her house to find it – the frantic and blurred camerawork makes you feel just as frustrated and upset as she does.
The first-feature from director Garret Zevgetis offers an intimate window into a very inspiring and unique woman and her family. The Helen Keller quote where the film’s title draws from describes Michelle’s journey perfectly, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”