Blink: The Pelletiers invite the viewer on the trip of a lifetime

When life throws you into disarray, sometimes the only thing to do is seize the day.

Directed by Edmund Stenson and Daniel Roher, the new documentary Blink follows Edith and Sebastien Pelletier, parents of four who live (understandably) busy lives. However, their pace comes to a grinding halt when they receive the news that three of their children have been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare and incurable disease that will eventually lead to visual impairment. Knowing that their children will inevitably lose the ability to see the vastness of the world through their own eyes, Edith and Sebastien come up with a plan: taking their entire family on a trip around the world to fill their ‘visual memory’. Taking their children to some of Earth’s most beautiful locations, the Pelletiers encounter a world of wonder with the hope of building memories that will last a lifetime.

Through the eyes of the Pelletier family, Roher and Stenson tell a story of both adventure and grace. Featuring stunning footage, Blink takes us around the world in the blink of an eye but never loses its focus. This isn’t a film about the surroundings themselves but the challenges faced by a family that is trying to give joy to their children.

As a result, while they travel, the viewer is treated to the most unique vision for the world that we may have seen onscreen in sometime. Featuring a travel itinerary that brings the viewer to the pyramids, Himalayas and rainforests may feel like a set-list for another Richard Attenborough film yet Blink’s itinerary is established from the mind of a child. As such, rather than simply visiting historical places, Roher and Stenson capture moments of experiencing them. Imagery such as playing soccer at night with local kids and drinking juice on an elephant feel more magical because of their intent. Edith and Sebastien want these kids to live the world in their way. That’s how they will receive their most lasting visual memories. 

What’s more, despite its emotional core, Roher and Stenson want to show them the difficulties of such a journey. (After all, bringing four children anywhere would be an unbelievable challenge. Let alone, a year-long trip around the world.) This is a documentary… and that means showing reality. We bear witness to family struggles, travel struggles and safety issues. (Without exaggeration, the scene in the tram may be the most stressful scene put to film this year.)

However, while the adventure may be beautiful and life-giving, the film’s soul remains Edith and Sebastien. Despite the massive undertaking of bringing their children around the world, Blink never deifies them. While they usually display themselves with grace and love, the film also shows us their humanity. Frustration over crying children and stress over everyday family situations are shown without judgment. They laugh and hope. But they also yell, cry and grieve. These are moments in the lives of every parent and Blink wants us to realize that Edith and Sebastien aren’t superheroes. Instead, they’re simply parents who love their children and are willing to pivot lives in order to give their children a story that they can carry with them when their vision fades. 

They’re not perfect. They just love their kids.

In this way, there’s a unique blend of sadness and hope within Blink. As viewers, we mourn the fact that these children are losing their sight. Full of youthful energy, these children have their whole lives ahead of them and there’s a certain sense of grief that this reality carries with it.

However, despite their hurt, Edith and Sebastien are still able to look beyond the situation. To them, the livelihood of their children will not be determined by their physical situation. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. These young people carry with them an inner spark that is going to make a difference in the future. Though the loss of their sight may feel like the end, their lives are only beginning. 

For this reason, Blink is a film that truly invites the viewer of the value of every moment. By giving the children the opportunity to fill their visual palette, Edith and Sebastien are able to take up the fight on behalf of their kids. Even if they can’t win, they can help them live their lives.

Blink is available in select Canadian theatres on Friday, October 4^th, 2024.