When Love Was Blind
When Love Was Blind

Movie spotlight

When Love Was Blind

1917
Movie
50 min
English

Blind Eleanor is cared for by her father's friend and eventual lover, Burton Lester, who arranges a sight-restoring operation. Upon recovering her sight, Eleanor discovers Burton is married, leading her to seek independence by completing her father's art and becoming a renowned artist in New York. After a misunderstanding involving a lost necklace and Burton's kindness to a friend, Eleanor reconciles with Burton and they become engaged.

Insights

Director: Émile CohlGenres: Animation, Short, Fantasy, Romance

Plot Summary

This animated short film by Émile Cohl depicts a fantastical journey of love and imagination. A man, inspired by the sight of a woman, embarks on a whimsical adventure through a dreamlike landscape. He encounters various symbolic elements and fantastical creatures as his love for the woman grows, culminating in a visually imaginative expression of affection.

Critical Reception

As a very early animated film, 'When Love Was Blind' is historically significant for its pioneering animation techniques and imaginative storytelling. While specific contemporary critical reviews are scarce due to the era, its place in animation history is recognized for Cohl's innovative approach to visual narrative and his contributions to the development of animated cinema.

What Reviewers Say

  • Historically significant as an early animated work.

  • Praised for its imaginative and fantastical visual style.

  • A testament to Émile Cohl's pioneering spirit in animation.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this film is not available, likely due to its age and limited accessibility in modern digital platforms.

Fun Fact

Émile Cohl, often called the 'Father of Animation,' created 'When Love Was Blind' using a painstaking stop-motion technique, drawing each frame by hand onto paper and then filming them individually.

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