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For years, John’s world has been getting darker. He’s 32 years old and is losing his sight to retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a rare genetic condition that has forced him to quit his job as a driver in London and increasingly limits his freedom of movement. Across Still Water, a short documentary by the UK director Ruth Grimberg, finds John at a crossroads: should he train to use a cane, or get a guide dog, and lose his Jack Russell terrier? As he struggles to accept his deteriorating condition, night fishing trips with a friend are the only thing that bring him a sense of peace. Constructed with care and patience, Grimberg’s film is a compassionate reflection on the quiet depth of friendship and the experience of preparing for a future without sight.
Via Short of the Week.
Director: Ruth Grimberg
Producer: Claire Levy
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Illness and disease
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Love and friendship
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