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CODA
Sian Heder is the creative force behind a warm and emotionally charged cinematic experience called CODA, a 2021 Apple original that focuses on a very special family and the circumstances that try to tear them apart.
This is the story of Ruby Rossi, who is a CODA, an acronym for Child of Deaf Adults. Ruby is the only hearing member of her family. Her mother, father, and brother are all deaf and operate a small fishing business with Ruby's help. Ruby has always been completely devoted to her family's business, lending her hearing when necessary. Ruby finds herself torn when she joins the choir at school and finds a deeply-rooted passion for music that she never knew about or had buried. The choir director recognizes her talent and passion and thinks she has the talent to get into Berkley; however, her family is trying to take their business to a new level and can't do it without Ruby.
Sian Heder takes a truly creative leap with this story because three of the principals are def and mute and only communicate through sign language. Yes, Helen Keller was deaf and mute in The Miracle Worker, but she was the only character with the handicap. In this story, Ruby has to bring us into the story and she does as much as she can. Yes, there are large portions of the story where we're not exactly sure what's going on, but we always feel the emotion behind it. We find ourselves involved as we watch Ruby's family's emotions through their eyes and the power that they employ behind their signing.
Just as important as trying to understand what Ruby's family is feeling is feeling the conflict within Ruby as she not only has to deal with her passion for music being stilted, but has to deal with the bigotry the Rossi family must face, which interferes with a possible romance for our heroine. The amazing part of this complicated story is that Ruby rarely makes a wrong move, leading us to the final third of the film, which had me seriously fighting tears.
Marlee Matlin, the first hearing-impaired actor to ever win an Oscar for 1987's Children of a Lesser God, is absolutely luminous as Ruby's mother. I especially loved that scene near the end where she has just bought Ruby a new dress. Daniel Durant is explosive as Ruby's brother Leo and Troy Kotsur is Oscar-worthy as Ruby's Dad, commanding the screen without a word every time the camera came near him. And Emilia Jones lights up the screen as Ruby, a performance of warmth and power that makes us fall in love with the character. She also possesses an impressive set of pipes that provide a lovely tribute to Joni Mitchell. Cinematography and sound are icing on this powerhouse cinematic cake.
Sian Heder is the creative force behind a warm and emotionally charged cinematic experience called CODA, a 2021 Apple original that focuses on a very special family and the circumstances that try to tear them apart.
This is the story of Ruby Rossi, who is a CODA, an acronym for Child of Deaf Adults. Ruby is the only hearing member of her family. Her mother, father, and brother are all deaf and operate a small fishing business with Ruby's help. Ruby has always been completely devoted to her family's business, lending her hearing when necessary. Ruby finds herself torn when she joins the choir at school and finds a deeply-rooted passion for music that she never knew about or had buried. The choir director recognizes her talent and passion and thinks she has the talent to get into Berkley; however, her family is trying to take their business to a new level and can't do it without Ruby.
Sian Heder takes a truly creative leap with this story because three of the principals are def and mute and only communicate through sign language. Yes, Helen Keller was deaf and mute in The Miracle Worker, but she was the only character with the handicap. In this story, Ruby has to bring us into the story and she does as much as she can. Yes, there are large portions of the story where we're not exactly sure what's going on, but we always feel the emotion behind it. We find ourselves involved as we watch Ruby's family's emotions through their eyes and the power that they employ behind their signing.
Just as important as trying to understand what Ruby's family is feeling is feeling the conflict within Ruby as she not only has to deal with her passion for music being stilted, but has to deal with the bigotry the Rossi family must face, which interferes with a possible romance for our heroine. The amazing part of this complicated story is that Ruby rarely makes a wrong move, leading us to the final third of the film, which had me seriously fighting tears.
Marlee Matlin, the first hearing-impaired actor to ever win an Oscar for 1987's Children of a Lesser God, is absolutely luminous as Ruby's mother. I especially loved that scene near the end where she has just bought Ruby a new dress. Daniel Durant is explosive as Ruby's brother Leo and Troy Kotsur is Oscar-worthy as Ruby's Dad, commanding the screen without a word every time the camera came near him. And Emilia Jones lights up the screen as Ruby, a performance of warmth and power that makes us fall in love with the character. She also possesses an impressive set of pipes that provide a lovely tribute to Joni Mitchell. Cinematography and sound are icing on this powerhouse cinematic cake.