Slamdance 2022 Film Festival – A director and an intimacy coordinator end up at near-blows, after a consent violation sets the coordinator’s hackles up, and she finds out the director was fueling the insubordination.

Blind Spots briefly dives into the often unthought-of world of intimacy coordination. Every time there’s a sex scene in a film you watch, there is (or should be) an intimacy coordinator on set. They work with actors to create boundaries, safe words, and choreograph the intimacy for the screen. Their job is very serious, and very health-and-safety-conscious. Sadly, most production teams don’t see the value of this, and instead blame the intimacy coordinator for slowdowns in production. I say this from experience – not just as someone who has worked on set, but as someone who has worked on set as an intimacy coordinator. What these people do is crucial, but most productions see them as a bother.

Blind Spots is difficult to watch. From misogynistic behavior from the director and actor, to uncomfortable triangulation from the crew, to repeated consent violations, this film decidedly did NOT make me want to go back to film production any time soon. The word “triggered” is used too often – but I really was triggered watching this – as an intimacy coordinator, and as a survivor of assault. However, I think this is a kind of “triggered” more people need to be. Any chance to shed light on the inherent misogyny and deviance behind the scenes of film is well worth taking – especially in a way as easily understandable and accessible as Blind Spots. Even if you’ve never been on a film set, this story will make you squirm, and remind you that even your entertainment has its downsides.

7 Out of 10