You're probably thinking to yourself that Looking UP sounds like just another disability feel-good film, an inspiration porn about overcoming disability that hits all those familiar emotional narrative notes.
Think again.
Yes, one could call Looking UP a feel-good motion picture. The debut feature doc from Elena Neuman, the film had its world premiere at October's Soho International Film Festival and has proceeded to make its mark on the indie fest scene including a win for Best Documentary at Lonely Seal Film Festival. The film centers around Eitan Armon, a young man diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Diagnosed at age 20, we catch up to Eitan as he's living with only 5% of his central vision remaining. Aware of his challenges ahead, Eitan makes the choice to tackle the world's most epic granite wall - El Capitan, a vertical rock formation in Yellowstone National Park about 3,000 feet high.
Inspirational? Sure. Insane? That too.
There's a difference between an inspirational film and inspiration porn. Elena Neuman clearly understands that difference, capturing the heart, humanity, and hard work of a young man whose default setting seems to be one of resilience. After being diagnosed with RP, Eitan received a medical discharge from the military and promptly enrolled at Columbia University to study neuropsychology. A Rhodes Scholar finalist and Phi Beta Kappa honors grad, hasn't so much "overcome" his disability as he's embraced living a kicka** life with it. From serving as a mentor to others with visual impairments to his daily professional gig as a financial analyst focused on healthcare service companies, Eitan Armon draws you in and doesn't let you go.
The same is true for Looking UP, a film that beautifully captures Eitan's journey and his seemingly endless capacity for resilience as he embraces challenges and exhibits a relentless positivity that never feels false and always feels honest.
DP Daniel Tenenbaum's lensing is immersive throughout, capturing both the vulnerability of this endeavor and Eitan's attraction to it. Michael Bryan Stein's original score avoids the usual histrionics often found in this type of film in favor of a quiet grandness befitting the storytelling. Supportive characters nicely complement the storytelling, however, there's never any doubt this film is about Eitan Armon. Neuman nicely taps into the essence of who Eitan Armon is and why when given devastating news his instinct seemingly leans into a greater sense of positivity than many of us can muster on our best days.
There's no doubt that Looking Up is the kind of film that indie fests love. The fact that it's already lined up at over a dozen fests serves up proof that this is the kind of film audiences love to see, and with such a compelling character one can't help but expect this film to go far.
Inspirational in all the right ways with terrific storytelling from beginning to end, Looking UP is a film to watch for at a fest near you with its next dates next weekend's St. Louis International Film Festival.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
