Directed by: Edmund Stenson, Daniel Roher
Cinematography: Jean-Sébastien Francoeur
Starring: THE PELLETIER FAMILY ( Parents: Edith Lemay and Sébastien Pelletier, Children: Mia, Léo, Colin and Laurent)
Distributed by: National Geographic Documentary Films (Worldwide)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (USA/Canada)
Release date: October 4, 2024
Running time: 84 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English/French (English Subtitles)
As a parent what do you do when three of your four children are diagnosed with an incurable rare genetic disorder (retinitis pigmentosa)? Well, French Canadian couple Edith Lemay and Sébastien Pelletier and their four children Mia, Léo, Colin and Laurent spend time travelling the world making visual memories that will last a lifetime.
The Directors Daniel Roher and Edmund Stenson film the family throughout their adventures and downtime over a year, the cameras capture this once-in-a-lifetime experience through the ups and downs with breathtaking adventures and scenery. Join the family as they explore all-new locations that will amaze and entertain.
Edith Lemay and Sébastien Pelletier react like any parent would react when they find out three of their four children an incurable disorder. Not wanting to sit by stagnant as their children slowly lose their eyesight, the family sets out on a round the world travelling trip through exotic locations completing their kids bucket list so to speak.
The one thing that jumps out right away is the parent’s helplessness after hearing the diagnosis for Mia (currently 13 years old), Colin (currently 9 years old) and Laurent (currently 7 years old). The family is definitely close and although this is a devasting dianogsis (retinitis pigmentosa), they turn a decide to travel the world making as many visual memories they can by visiting places they’ve only seen on tv and in books.
The exotic locations add an element of adventure, but the true story here is how both child and parent learn that even though the children may lose their sight, there is plenty memories that will remain for the rest of their lives. There’s also some dangers in these locations too as the father Sébastien finds out through some painful bug stings. There’s also the time the family is stuck in a gondila lift in the dark night awaiting help from the operators.
The kids are still home schooled while on the road, but life lessons and exotic cultures also fill their days. They learn from the people they encounter at each location and the kids act like kids throughout, which shows their resilience. The whole family grows over the 84-minuture adventure, even showing their return home is an adjustment, but one thing that remains is a closeness that many families never have.
BLINK has many touching moments that go along with the adventure, so come love, live and learn with your own family on this enthralling documentary that shows a negative can always be contorted into a positive in life.
BLINK will release be premiering in select theatres on October 4
