Andrea Bocelli Reflects on Life-Changing Accident in New Documentary

Renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli opens up about a soccer accident in his youth that resulted in his permanent blindness in the documentary 'Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe.' The film, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, covers his journey and dedication to music.

Renowned singer Andrea Bocelli has recalled a soccer accident that left him visually impaired, reported People. The documentary 'Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe,' which focuses on his life, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Italian tenor opened up about how a soccer incident as a young boy led to his blindness, compounding the challenges of his congenital glaucoma. 'As a child, I was considered extremely short-sighted. I could see everything but only from up close,' Bocelli said in the documentary.

'I remember extremely well the world I saw—colors, everything. How could I forget those memories?' Bocelli reminisced. His brother Alberto also touched on his journey, adding that Andrea had undergone 13 surgeries for his condition by the age of 3 1/2. 'It was torture,' Alberto noted.

According to Alberto, by age 7, no local school was willing to accept him due to his visual impairment, leading to his placement in a specialized boarding school. 'He would come home only during holidays. We'd visit him once a month,' he said. Andrea described this period as the 'worst' moments of his life, which worsened when a tragic incident at age 12 left him completely blind.

'I was the goalkeeper while playing soccer one day; a ball hit me right in the face. From that blow, a hemorrhage... and the rest is history,' Bocelli recalled. Alberto added, 'That's when he lost his sight. That's when darkness fell.'

'Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe' is directed by Cosima Spender and offers a deep dive into Bocelli's path to success. It features interviews, archival performance footage, and informal gatherings, reported People. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)