Synopsis: A fusion of dream/reality, this off-beat drama about a man's search for meaning amidst the ache of despair chronicles Finn, a middle-aged English teacher, as he enters a mid-life crisis impelled by a recent tragedy. As he sets afoot selling encyclopedias to the town locals, encounters ensue and sales are made, but Finn's anxieties begin to consume him as he finds himself pursued by an unrelenting ghost. Circling through sleepless nights and desperate days, this story intertwines lives of loneliness and disconnection, fatefully leading Finn toward an unexpected and sublime awakening.

Cast:
David Strathairn .... Finn
Ian Somerhalder .... Drifter
Daniel Gillies .... Dylan
Jane Adams .... Alice
Ann Cusack .... Deanna
Joe Mazzello .... Tripp
Elisabeth Waterston .... Daisy
Scott Wilson .... Tucker

Notes:
• The Sensation of Sight, an independent feature, was written and directed by Aaron Wiederspahn. David became involved with the project through his good friend Buzz McLaughlin, who is executive producer of the picture.
• The Sensation of Sight was shot October 24 - November 12, 2005 exclusively in Peterborough, New Hampshire. It won the Best Feature Film Award at the 2007 New Hampshire Film Festival.
• David also co-produced this project. The film marks his first as a producer.
• The Sensation of Sight also marked the fourth time David has worked with co-star Joseph Mazzello. The two previously worked together in The River Wild and Simon Birch. Following this film, David was personally asked by Joe to appear in his short film Matters of Life and Death, which he wrote, produced, directed and stars in.
• Inside The Sensation of Sight, by filmmaker Ron Wyman, was made to commemorates the making of this picture. It explores the behind the scenes personalities and reflections of the cast and crew.
• The film had its world premiere at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on September 22, 2006.

Critical Praise & Commentary:
• "Strathairn is nothing short of amazing in this role. Like the film in general, his performance is ultra low-key, but he can convey so much in just a gesture or change of expression. Like his performance as Edward R. Murrow in Good Night and Good Luck, his interpretation of Finn is a masterpiece of subtlety." -Matt Bradshaw, Cinematical

• "Strathairn is, not surprisingly, mesmerizing with a commanding screen presence." -Michael Brindley, Encore

• "David Strathairn is a wonderful journeyman actor and it’s great to see him make the best of everything from Brother from Another Planet in 1984 to Good Night, and Good Luck in 2005. He's up for anything and God bless him for doing this and adding his name as producer, too." -Gina Carbone, Roundtable Pictures

• "David Strathairn pulls off another Oscar-worthy performance, and the film's ensemble cast stays with you long after the closing credits." -Yaniv Rokah, Moving Pictures Magazine

"Strathairn is a fine, if not terribly weighty actor, and in Sensation of Sight he uses his best qualities--a kind of weedy, hesitant intelligence--to great advantage." -Lars Trodson, Roundtable Pictures

(David On His Role:)
• "Finn is a searcher. He's kind of a common man who is trying to figure things out... I love that he's kind of an everyman, he's kind of a fool. He's a thinker, and he's a questioner, but he's also just a high school English teacher." -David Strathairn, 2005

• [on the story] "What (Weiderspahn's) story does is peel back one layer of life, and look under the surface at things that everyone goes through...in a sincere and loving way." -David Strathairn, 2005

• [on the characters] "People who are dealing with some significant potholes in their lives." -David Strathairn, 2005

• "Buzz sent me the script and I loved it immediately. It's something I found special. The vision Aaron had was new; it wasn't conventional, the way he wanted to tell this story." -David Strathairn, 2006

• "Aaron provided for us a world that was very tangible. It was easy to step into that." -David Strathairn, 2006

• "This script was most definitely one of those that one picks up and puts in your pocket, takes home, runs it under the faucet, and puts on the window sill in the sun and watch it catch the light. Any light. Because it had so many facets to catch the light: whimsy, compassion and forgiveness for all the characters, a wonderful balance of all the story lines, both a poetical lilt and a very grounded insight, and most of all a gentleness and delight… The ensemble work in this film is a testament of the magic that can happen when a group of brave and trusting people all convene for the same reason. In this case, Aaron Wiederspahn's vision. It's hard to adequately describe this film, to put it into a simple sound bite that could possibly capture everything about the realization of this story. I love that it is about very real human conditions, presented patiently, gently, smilingly, with no judgment. It's affirmative and hopeful. What could be better? And it introduces several actors and a director to be watched, who herein prove to be deft and beautiful messengers." -David Strathairn, 2006

• [on the film] "It was a piece of connective tissue to the seminal experience of the character. It was a pretty great experience, from start to now." -David Strathairn, 2007

(Aaron Wiederspahn On David:)
• "My producing partner, Buzz McLaughlin, had known David back in the mid to late 80's, when they worked together at a theatre company Buzz had founded in New Jersey. They hadn't been in contact for over ten years, but we felt David was perfect for the role, so Buzz contacted and re-connected with him, and we sent him the script. Once he read it, he loved it, and said, 'Yeah, I'd love to do this.' The role was already created and very clear, as far as who the character is, when David attached himself to the project. But, once we started working together, it was definitely his subtlety and nuanced embodiment of Finn that brought this character to full actualization. It became all that I had imagined." -Aaron Wiederspahn, writer/director

(Buzz McLaughlin On David:)
• "From day one he was very gracious. He thanked me for thinking of him, and he loved it immediately. ...He's probably one of the best guys that one would ever want to work with. There's no Hollywood pretension about him. He's just there, and he's got tons of great ideas and suggestions." -Buzz McLaughlin, executive producer

• "David's star is definitely on the rise. The word on the movie [Good Night, And Good Luck] is brilliant, and they're promoting David for an Oscar nomination. The timing couldn't be better for us." -Buzz McLaughlin, executive producer

• [on David helping produce the film] "He's putting his name on the line because he loves the project so much." -Buzz McLaughlin, executive producer

• "He's just an amazing actor and highly respected, and he's suddenly very hot." -Buzz McLaughlin, executive producer

Related Links:
Official U.S. Site (off site)
Either/Or Films (off site)
a713 Production (off site)
Avid.com - The Sensation of Sight: Sophisticated Storytelling on a Modest Budget (off site)