Ming Wang, the real-life doctor whose biography is the basis for this fictional feature, is a Nashville-based ophthalmologist whose degree in laser physics helps him in his work restoring sight to blind patients, presumably children.
But like most inspirational medical movies, Andrew Hyatt’s new film “Sight” leans too hard on the uplifting side, offering only the bare minimum of scientific information to tell the story. Wang’s achievements in developing groundbreaking technology are certainly central to the story here, but at its heart it’s about personal growth.
The film, set in 2006, depicts Wang’s traumatic childhood in Hangzhou, China, with decades of flashbacks. Wang and his friend Lili are threatened by the Red Guards of the Cultural Revolution. Wang wants to become a doctor like his father. His father tells him that the best “chance” in his life is to “become a musician.” I rarely hear stories like this.
Wang excelled in school and was able to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), but despite the elite educational environment, he was discouraged from pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor. These challenges have left Wang with a defensive ego and a tendency to emotionally shut out others. He must learn to deal with failure and trust.
All of this unfolds in a competent and matter-of-fact manner, with lead actors Terry Chen, Greg Kinnear, and the always welcome Fionnula Flanagan displaying the professionalism you’d expect.
Wang wrote a memoir that discusses his Christian faith in detail, which isn’t included in the actual film, but faith-friendly distributor Angel Films added a “pay it forward” coda to the film (similar to the one in 2023’s “Sound of Freedom”) in which the real Wang testifies to his spirituality.
Vision
Rated PG-13 for thematic content and mild violence. Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes. Now playing in theaters.
