“It’s not important what’s real as long as I can visualise it clearly” is an early and telling piece of dialogue in Blind, the feature debut of Norwegian writer-director Eskel Vogt. After winning the Screenwriting award at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014, it’s enjoyed a favourable run at festivals before finally making its way to UK cinemas this week, and it’s certainly worthy of the plaudits it has been receiving.

Having recently lost her sight, Ingrid (Ellen Dorrit Petersen) has retreated to the safety and solitude of her new home. Struggling to maintain her ability to visualise images from her past and growing more and more distant from her husband Morten (Henrik Rafaelson), her imagination takes over and she begins to fabricate stories from her memories. As we are introduced to porn-addicted voyeur Einar (Marius Kolbenstvedt) and single mother Elin (Vera Vitali), Ingrid’s fears begin to manifest in their stories.

Even before Ingrid begins to narrate these tales, Blind immediately fascinates as it excels in putting us into the mind-set of what it would be like to have lost your vision. Far more complex than just the physical limitations – which are themselves portrayed in stark, devastating manner – Vogt clues us in to Ingrid’s growing paranoia in a way that feels understandable.

Blind is also one of the more unpredictable films in recent memory. Just when you feel you’ve got a handle on where things are going, another sudden twist forces you to reassess what’s real and what isn’t. Vogt uses Ingrid’s imagination skilfully and playfully here, revealing knowing observations on how our perceptions affect how we act. In the lead role, Petersen’s compelling performance is full of nuance and sensitivity, and she remains completely convincing throughout, and she’s ably supported by her co-stars.