Parents' Guide to Sight

The filmmaking in this earnest drama is pedestrian but fine, even if a story about an ophthalmologist isn't likely to attract younger viewers. Which isn't to say that Wang's story isn't worthwhile; it is (at least, it is as told here). That makes it all the more frustrating that writer-director Andrew Wyatt doesn't seem to get that he doesn't have to make Wang into a superhero—the story works because Wang is an everyman. He overcomes intense adversity to find success in his community and his career—not the kind that makes you a household name, but the kind that gets you the respect of your peers. And that is success. Moreover, he uses his specific set of skills to do good in the world, providing free surgeries to help blind children around the world.

All of that said, in this age of truthiness, it does feel like there may be some exaggeration happening here. After watching Sight, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Wang invented the ability to restore sight to the blind. He did not. Biopics typically focus on the greatest of the great, and strong effort is made to put Wang in that class: Colleagues bow to his superior brilliance, he learns four years of high school material in a matter of weeks to achieve the highest university test scores of anyone in his province, and he's positioned as a miracle worker. But if the facts are stretched, the question is: Does it matter? Since Wang isn't a household name, you can take the film at its word—and it has plenty of positive takeaways, including showing kids that studying hard pays off and that when you're stumped, the solution might be right there inside of you. If you opt to take that route, appreciate the film for what it is, and don't do a deep internet dive on the real Dr. Wang.