Licht (2017)

Licht: Directed by Barbara Albert. With Maria Dragus, Devid Striesow, Lukas Miko, Katja Kolm. A blind pianist living in 18th-century Vienna forms an extraordinary relationship with the physician who is trying to restore her sight.

“Mademoiselle Paradis is the true story of blind Austrian prodigy pianist Maria Theresia Paradis (1759-1824) and her treatment under controversial doctor Franz Anton Mesmer (who believed there is an invisible aether coursing through us, that the treatment of this liquid could cure diseases, and from whom we get the terms u0026#39;mesmerizeu0026#39; and u0026#39;animal magnetismu0026#39;). He was, it would seem, able to cure her blindness long as she was in his care.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI donu0026#39;t know if the film is interesting from a historical point of view or if itu0026#39;s only the director that makes it so. What I do know is interesting is the directing, which makes good use of lighting and contrast to illuminate the story of this blind young woman and dispel the shadows around medicine and misogyny in late 18th century Europe.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe actors and their costumes blend in perfectly with the setting, so fans of period dramas will find a lot to admire here. In short, this film is like Mesmeru0026#39;s liquid: no one will ever see it, but that doesnu0026#39;t mean itu0026#39;s without power.”