Directors Bill Sarine and Max Lewkowicz , through the American Foundation for the Blind, present documentary Possibilities, starting with the impact of the legacy of Helen Keller. Keller was born in 1808 and lost her sight and hearing at 19 months old to an infection thought to be scarlet fever or bacterial meningitis. She achieved groundbreaking success by learning to communicate under the tutelage of her mentor, Anne Sullivan. Keller went on to become an author, disability rights advocate, and political activist.
With Keller’s life as inspiration, Possibilities features life experiences recounted in first person by people with vision loss. One after another shares accomplishments, experiences, and joys of their lives, regardless of their blindness.
The film adopts a new concept of accessibility in cinema where each photo in the documentary is described for the unsighted. The AFB pointed out this approach in their submission notes: “It is the first feature-length film to fully integrate open audio description into the storytelling itself—making it accessible to both blind and sighted audiences without compromise. In addition, blind creatives are not only in front of the camera, but behind it, shaping how stories are told, heard, and experienced. From the writer’s room, to the final music mix, AFB worked with the director to assure blind creatives played an active role in the filming process, redefining industry standards for inclusive production.”
The emphasis of the film is on ability vs disability, focusing on success in life by blind people. The narrative pushes back against ableism, demonstrating how those with vision loss adapt and adjust to a world not built for them. Self determination, independence, and a ferocious insistence on autonomy characterize the people who speak.
Helen Keller meeting President Kennedy
“… focusing on accomplishments, experiences, and joys of their lives …“
One theme that recurs in the film is the burden that blind people carry to educate the sighted on what they they are capable of and what help they may, or (more often) may not need. A better understanding will enable them to live with dignity and move through the world without being self-conscious, not only because of their own challenges, but of how they are perceived. The sighted can come across as patronizing and ignorant to people who have fought to be fully capable in the world.
The speakers, following the example of Hellen Keller, express their sense of accomplishment and delight in their occupations, artistic endeavors, relationships, and their ability to interact in society. The press release for the film summarizes : “Their stories challenge outdated assumptions and present a vivid, contemporary portrait of independence, creativity, and self-determination.”
Viewers will find the film educational, as documentaries should be, but also edifying and joyful. In their own words, blind people guide the sighted toward a more respectful and functional approach to interacting with them, as well as raising awareness of how society can be better structured to be more accessible. The documentary could also serve as a positive gateway for those who have recently lost their sight, to make it clear to them that while there will need to be adaptation, they can lead a full and happy life.
Possibilities debuted on Helen Keller’s 146th birthday. Sarine talks about the doors it will open: “This film isn’t just about representation — it’s about authorship. It’s an incredible opportunity as we experiment with new ways to make media more accessible, while at the same time an incredible responsibility as we honor the authentic and sometimes raw stories of those with lived experience.”
Learn more at the official Possibilities website.
"…edifying and joyful..."
