Blink Parent Guide

Surrounded by the chaos of her four rambunctious children, Édith Lemay does her best to overcome her need for control. Then three of the four children are diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an incurable, degenerative condition that leads to blindness.

As Édith and her husband Sebastien grapple with their children’s futures, Édith seizes on the advice of an eye specialist: “Fill the children’s visual memories”. Relieved that there’s something they can still control in this situation, Édith and Sebastien decide to do more than look at pictures and watch documentaries. They poll the kids to create a bucket list, pull them from their Montreal school, cash in some stocks, and take a trip around the world. Mia, Léo, Colin, and Laurent aren’t just going to read about giraffes and elephants – they will see them up close.

Given these facts, it’s not surprising that this is an emotionally intense movie that will trigger both sad and happy tears. It’s bittersweet to see the beauties of the world through the eyes of children who know that their sight will soon be lost – and who are already experiencing night blindness. It’s also painful to watch their parents feel the loss along with them. But this isn’t a gloomy story; to the contrary, it’s shot full of hope and courage. This is a film about resilience, optimism, and the power of family ties. It’s wonderful to see a movie about loving, committed parents who are able to steer their children through a devastating diagnosis.

Blink is also a documentary that celebrates the jaw-dropping beauty of planet earth and the amazing variety of human societies thereon. The Lemay/Pelletiers go hot air ballooning in Egypt, wander through the white desert, and gape at majestic ancient Egyptian monuments. They go hiking in the Himalayas and boat down the Amazon. The family ride horses in Mongolia, go surfing in Indonesia, and eat ice cream in Turkey. And since the budget is tight - $200 per day – there’s no hiding away in luxury hotels. Staying in hostels or homestays gives the family an on-the-ground view of life in each country, experiencing cultures and making friends around the world.

This is a wonderful documentary and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a real-life story that celebrates families. The only caveat here is that viewers need to be prepared to read subtitles. The Lemay/Pelletiers are French-Canadians and although Édith and Sebastien speak English on camera, the kids only converse in French. Children who don’t read fast enough to follow the subtitles will likely find the movie frustrating rather than uplifting.

As for adults, Blink is a reminder that the inescapable, universal truth of parenthood is that we all send our children into an unknown future with challenges we can’t predict. We might try to hide from that fact, making plans, projecting dreams, instilling resilience and life skills. But, like Édith and Sebastien, the best we can do is seize the present moment and help our kids make the most of life, however messy or unpredictable it may be. Carpe diem.