“Black” is one of those movies you yearn to see again and again and you can never ever quite get the story out of your head.  The movie is a love story of self-discovery and education for a Deaf and Blind woman who does not speak.  She lives in an internal darkness.  She wants a way out into the light of the world.  The box for the special edition of the DVD is pocked with Braille dots you can feel with your fingertips, thus creating a temptation, and an expectation for the drama of learning to come:


Some refer to “Black” — released on February 4, 2005 — as the Indian version of the Helen Keller story and, in many ways, both movies share a similar crisis of confidence and learning, but “Black” is more of a love story. 

There is love between sisters, teacher and student and the predestiny of God’s will.

When you watch “Black” — don’t be put off by the early scenes of the young deaf and blind woman thrashing around — that’s a blunt and necessary demonstration indicating how, without language, we are nothing but wild animals.

Language civilizes us.  Grammar leads us to meaning.  Structure defines our interaction with others.

As the movie expands the mind and explodes the heart, “Black” teaches us how we learn and what we need to value in life.

We have, despite our lower yearnings, always continued to evolve into higher beings even though our innate preconditioning tugs us down — and we’re all the better for that fight against the perils of nature — even in the midst of everlasting heartbreak and despair.

14 Comments

  1. ANNE – I live and teach on the upper West Coast of the United States. My interests are Philosophy, English, and Social Communication.
    ANNE says:

    You’ve mentioned this movie before. I guess I better try to find it again, David, and watch it.

  2. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Rent it, Anne! Let us know what you think. It’s a wonderful movie that can, unfortunately, be hard to find.

  3. Kathakali Chatterjee – Hyderabad, India – Professionally, I have an interesting concoction of experience -- from entertainment industry to retailing to executive education -- the journey is still on. When I don't work, I love to travel, read, listen to music and watch movies.
    Kathakali Chatterjee says:

    “Black” is truely an experience David, though some find it “insensitive”.
    http://www.filmicafe.com/celebrity_interview_detail.php?interview_id=204
    The journey of both the student and the teacher is amazing, the direction and the acting is just brilliant.
    Recently “Taare Zameen Par” was released which dealt with a dyslexic kid, a disease mostly unknown to the majority of the Indian.
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0986264/
    It’s superbly done – a “must watch”, to say the least!

  4. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Katha,
    It’s too bad that link you provide is more bitter than in making a cogent argument why Black is “insensitive.”
    Thanks for the recommendation on the second film! Is “Taare Zameen Par” open captioned? Any idea where to purchase a copy in the USA? Amazon seems to be out of the DVD but they’re still selling the soundtrack…

  5. Kathakali Chatterjee – Hyderabad, India – Professionally, I have an interesting concoction of experience -- from entertainment industry to retailing to executive education -- the journey is still on. When I don't work, I love to travel, read, listen to music and watch movies.
    Kathakali Chatterjee says:

    Hi David,
    Yeah, I realised it after I posted the link. The interviewee is also a big name in the Hindi movie industry, probably there is some undercurrent in between.
    “Open captioned” means with “subtitles”? Of course!
    I used the following service for buying a few things – no complain.
    http://shopping.sify.com/Videos/Taare_Zameen_Par_DVD-_item_13170269___14251010.html
    Following is a link for Indian Grocery stores in NJ, I am 100% sure they will sell and/ rent the movie – that’s how I got “Black”.
    http://www.thokalath.com/new-
    jersey/grocery_stores.php
    Another option is Netflix, in case you are a member – it’s available there.
    Hope you get it!

  6. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Thanks for those great links, Katha! I must find that movie!

  7. Kathakali Chatterjee – Hyderabad, India – Professionally, I have an interesting concoction of experience -- from entertainment industry to retailing to executive education -- the journey is still on. When I don't work, I love to travel, read, listen to music and watch movies.
    Kathakali Chatterjee says:

    In case you don’t get it – let me know

  8. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Thanks, Katha! I appreciate your help.

  9. Kathakali Chatterjee – Hyderabad, India – Professionally, I have an interesting concoction of experience -- from entertainment industry to retailing to executive education -- the journey is still on. When I don't work, I love to travel, read, listen to music and watch movies.
    Kathakali Chatterjee says:

    You’re welcome!

  10. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    You’re a big help, Katha, and I always appreciate your direction.

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  12. I can not find this film anywhere in my country… I want to show this film to teachers coz it is an inspirational film. Anyone can help me where i can find this film? Or i can download it.

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