My heart ached for Donny Baker's character, played magnificently by Edward Albert, to find the freedom and love he sought, in spite of the challenge of being born blind and having an well-meaning, but domineering and over-protective mother.
All the more heart-rending is Don's incredible courage and fierce insistence on being treated just like anyone else. Don does not pity himself for his handicap, and he does not want the audience to either, which makes him all the more real and lovable. Don demands to be seen as a person, not as a blind person. In certain scenes, Don's advocacy for equal treatment shows us how sometimes even our kindnesses might be experienced as patronizing. How did actor Edward Albert create a character that ropes you in entirely, and makes you root for him desperately. Not only that, but he is easy on the eyes as well.
The film feels like a stage play with tight attention on the day's events, as well as snappy dialogue between the central characters. Ample tension between Don, his mother Mrs Baker, as well as Mrs. Baker and Don's love interest, played perfectly by Goldie Hawn, keeps you on your toes and hoping for the best, in spite of the agony of the unknown.
If you are feeling slight sorry for yourself, watch Butterflies are Free. I guarantee you, it will put everything in perspective!
Ella Quent May 2010
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