imagineNATIVE 26 FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! For the movie that completely redefines what a touching documentary can be, please watch the impressive artist profile Dream Touch Believe, directed by Jenna Naranjo Winters. Winters is also the daughter of the film’s subject, Michael Naranjo, a famous American sculptor whose works are meant to be touched by viewers. This is extremely rare, as many artworks cannot be touched by the public due to wear and deterioration. However, Naranjo wants others to experience his art the way he does, as Naranjo is completely blind. Naranjo sees his sculptures, as well as sculptures by others, by running his hands over them.
Born in a pueblo in northern New Mexico, Naranjo grew up among ten other children with his mother working as a potter. As a child, Naranjo would take extra pieces of clay to play with. Later on, he was drafted and sent to Vietnam, where a grenade cost him his sight, as well as full use of his right hand. After tiring of having everything done for him after the war, Naranjo sought independence and poured himself into learning how to sculpt with just his left hand, without any eyes. Over several decades, Naranjo has become increasingly famous, racking up some truly remarkable achievements. Winters tells her father’s story through interviews with him, her mother, Laura Naranjo, and others.
In Dream Touch Believe, it is stated that Naranjo wants to be seen as a great sculptor, not just a great blind sculptor or a great indigenous sculptor. This documentary wildly succeeds in the great sculptor’s wish, as anyone seeing Naranjo’s work without knowing his challenges can see its importance. Even with that prior knowledge, the statues are freaking gorgeous. While Naranjo’s identity as an indigenous artist is inescapable, especially as his subject matter reflects upon his heritage, his level of craft lifts him into the same realm as the Italians hundreds of years ago. While the spice is definitely Southwestern, the appeal is as globally universal as you can get.
As this is a family portrait, don’t expect a hard-hitting investigative piece, even with Winters having 45 years as a journalist under her belt. The real brilliance behind Dream Touch Believe is how Winters is able to maintain the momentum contained in the story. We get the nitty-gritty out of the way fast, with an introduction to Naranjo now, then a rundown on his back story. After that, Winters finds these absolutely remarkable life events that unfold one after another. Some of these events are very famous, with some viewers already have seen pictures of. However, for others, they will come as complete surprises, with some bordering on the bizarre.
“Naranjo gave me a greater appreciation of the old masters than I ever had before.”
While it is, at its core, a puff piece, this puff has steel spines. Winters even establishes a conflict within the documentary narrative that carries the audience into a revelation-filled third act. It isn’t anything that even the cleverest viewer would guess, making this one of the least predictable documentaries I have encountered. It will force you to question how you absorb art and highlight the importance of doing a show. In just a short time, Naranjo gave me a greater appreciation of the old masters than I ever had before. It took Naranjo’s reaching for the heights of the greats to make them great to me as well.
Winters places special emphasis on her mother’s role in her father’s success. Laura Naranjo has a mantra: You will never know unless you ask. It is this simple idea that created some of the greatest opportunities for Naranjo’s worldwide reputation to rise. Because she refused to believe something was too impossible to try, this woman opened doors that had never been opened before. Winters also puts a lot of heart into this, which is completely on display, as is the marvelous cinematography by Bill Stengel and fine editing by Steve Kobren. Dream Touch Believe is an insightful portrait of a great artist who is touching on too many levels to count.
Dream Touch Believe screened at the 2026 imagineNATIVE Film Festival.
"…an insightful portrait of a great artist that is touching on too many levels to count."
