Educational Media Reviews Online

Go Through the Dark observes a quiet and gifted young boy who, despite being blind, is seen as a genius in the popular game Go. His single father, at first, seems incredibly supportive, patiently accompanying his son throughout the day. The film catches image after image of father and son walking hand in hand or the father with his eyes on his child.

The young boy, Guanglin, is a slight and timid-appearing child. He seems to keep much of his emotions locked inside, only the occasional smile or his tear-filled eyes hint at what’s going on inside. Guanglin rarely speaks, and when he does it’s barely audible. Often his father and other adults that surround him seem to ignore him. Adults consistently talk about Guanglin as if he is not in the room. He silently paces or hovers in doorways, painfully illustrating his isolation. The viewer can only wonder what’s going on in his head as adults discuss his future, his potential, his medical needs, and limitations in blunt and straightforward terms.

Cracks in the father begin to appear, as the assumed pressures of such intense care-giving and limited means seems to weigh heavily on him. Most disturbing is when the pressure manifests itself in him physically lashing out at his child. After some questionable comments, the viewer begins to see that the father’s motivations may not be as pure as at first glance, wondering if his son’s health and well-being are his goals or the financial support his unique and talented son could provide him. The viewer also may question the motives of other adults in Guanglin’s life as well. Go coaches say they want to support the talented boy but then may seem to be just in it for the money or for the publicity of teaching a unique student.

With no voice over or any explanation, the film clearly brings the viewer into Guanglin’s and his father’s life, in all of its struggle and small joys. We view the complexities of all the people depicted in the film, accurately depicting that no one seems all good or all bad and motivations are unclear. This film is recommended for high school students to general audiences and would be useful in Asian studies and accessibility studies.

Awards:
Official selection of the Cambridge Film Festival; 2022 Florida Film Festival, Short List; 2022 Thin Line Festival, Special Recognition Awards (Family Portrait); 2022 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival (Award Winner)

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