Land of the Blind (2006)

17% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(2,758 ratings)

The debut film by director Robert Edwards, Land of the Blind, is a political satire starring Ralph Fiennes as a military man who helps overthrow his government. He does so at the urging of a political prisoner, played by Donald Sutherland, who has been outspoken about the corruption of the current… More The debut film by director Robert Edwards, Land of the Blind, is a political satire starring Ralph Fiennes as a military man who helps overthrow his government. He does so at the urging of a political prisoner, played by Donald Sutherland, who has been outspoken about the corruption of the current regime. The soldier learns that corruption may in fact be an inevitable part of having power. Set in an unnamed country without ever giving indication of a specific time period, the allegorical film had its North American debut at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Robert Edwards
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: May 12, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Aug 15, 2006

Critic Reviews

Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic
The only matter that interests is the question of Fiennes's presence in this political lesson for children.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
About as subtle as its all too obvious title would suggest.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
Writer-director Robert Edwards frantically throws in references to Orwell (Animal Farm and 1984), Lady Macbeth, Yeats, Mao, etc.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
Robert Edward's satirical allegory shamelessly borrows ideas from Orwell's 1984, then tramples them into the dust.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
If satire is the thing that closes on Saturday night, then political satire is usually doomed to close one night earlier. In the case of a pretentious monstrosity called Land of the Blind, it's a miracle it ever opened at all.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
There's nothing particularly revolutionary about writer-director Robert Edwards' grimly satiric political fable.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
one of the most politically essential films of the year, almost as significant as Terry Gilliam's masterpiece Brazil.
Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
An indelible portrait of the contradictions of power.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Strident, bombastic parable.
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
A sour satirical cocktail blended with ingredients oft-used in the recipes of Terry Gilliam and Paul Verhoeven.
Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette
The Who did it better in We Won't Get Fooled Again
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
Is this what we have stooped to for leftist political films? Robert Edwards' film for one reason or another really thinks it's saying something.
Timothy Knight, Reel.com
A labored pastiche of familiar dystopian motifs that beats the same, totalitarian-themed drum over and over again.
Boyd van Hoeij, european-films.net
Ralph Fiennes and Donald Sutherland as terrorist co-operatives? This is not a joke nor Hollywood's remake of Paradise now, but the biggest sales point of the Land of the Blind.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

Land of the Blind I picked up this film not knowing anything about it. Found it in a pawn shop for $3.00 it was worth that. I like most of the movies that Donald Sutherland stars in, but this one was a little different and nothing he did stood out. Its about a political Prisoner… More
Land of the Blind I picked up this film not knowing anything about it. Found it in a pawn shop for $3.00 it was worth that. I like most of the movies that Donald Sutherland stars in, but this one was a little different and nothing he did stood out. Its about a political Prisoner who spent years being beaten, starved, and trying to control his mind, A guard played by Ralph Fiennes helps him escape. After escaping Sutherland overthrown the government of one Maximilian II by killing him and his beautiful wife ( Think I would have kept her around, sure she would have seen things my way with a little persuasion). After being in charge awhile the people are no better off under Sutherlands Leadership as they were under Maximilian's matter fact things are worst (Sound Familiar kind of like Iraq). Fiennes is now the one in prison (retraining camp) at the end of the movie, telling the story. Movie didn't do much for me, but I am sure there will be some who swear by it. 3 Stars from My Mind.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Land of the Blind" takes place in an unnamed country where Maximillian II(Tom Hollander) is President for Life, having succeeded his father who ruled with an iron fist. The son is a bit of a dimwit, albeit a dangerous, sadistic film-obsessed one who… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Land of the Blind" takes place in an unnamed country where Maximillian II(Tom Hollander) is President for Life, having succeeded his father who ruled with an iron fist. The son is a bit of a dimwit, albeit a dangerous, sadistic film-obsessed one who takes after his father in the jailing, torturing and killing of dissidents department. One such dissident is former playwright, John Thorne(Donald Sutherland), who is leading a prison protest by not wearing prison uniforms and decorating his jail cell in a lovely shade of feces.(And also writing relevant quotations on the walls in the same material, too.) A young prison guard, Joe(Ralph Fiennes), takes a liking to the prisoner and strikes up the odd conversation...[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Land of the Blind" is an intelligent, witty, cheaply made movie about propaganda and the need to think for oneself. It also serves as a commentary on government. The movie is unabashedly pro-democracy and in not just giving lip service to the idea, either. A government is at its most dangerous when only one person is in charge. When that happens, their ideas can become reality, no matter how idiotic or dangerous they may seem. With a democracy, many different opinions are given and heard, thus hopefully giving the people a better voice in their own government.(As an anarchist, I am not fond of the idea of government in any form.) [/font]