In the Oscar-nominated Audible, director Matthew Ogens follows Maryland School for the Deaf student and football player Amaree Mckenstry-Hall. He and his teammates have the unique task of competing with other schools around the country–some of which are home to hearing students. Audible explores the day to day of Amaree and his friends as they cope with the struggle of sports, academics, and the loss of a close friend.
This is a documentary born out of love and necessity. Audible opens the world’s eyes to the trials and tribulations faced by the deaf community. If you haven’t been in the shoes of a deaf individual, it’s impossible to know what their day-to-day looks like, or how they manage their struggles. Beyond simply opening the world’s eyes, Audible educates viewers regarding the hardships of the deaf community–beyond simply being unable to hear. I had no idea of the discrimination that the deaf community faces on a regular basis, but Audible brings these struggles to light for all the world to see–and it’s heartbreaking (to a degree).
Audible is heartbreaking in the sense that it’s painful to know that there are people who are part of the deaf community that find their lives more difficult as a result of others’ indecencies. However, I’m not sure that the intended emotion ever really reaches viewers as Ogens had hoped, and that’s an issue. Sure, you want to educate viewers, but there needs to be some type of emotional connection to the interviewees, because without it they feel replaceable. I never felt the necessary connection to Amaree or his cohorts, and there is a disconnect between viewer and cast that distracts said viewers from the overall film.
There is an intensity present throughout Audible that appeals to emotion, but regarding the football aspect. If you love sports, there’s an entirely different dimension of the film that is sure to appeal to you–and I think this is a major reason why Audible has found so much success (particularly regarding The Academy). The cinematography brings the games to life in a vivid way, and viewers feel like spectators in the stadium. Honestly, one of the things I shouldn’t be incredibly worried about is how talented The Maryland School for the Deaf players are, but the reality is that this is one of the things that impressed me the most. These kids are simply fun to watch, and their passion for the game is contagious–and this is ultimately the reason that I found Audible enjoyable.
There’s no doubt that Audible is a good short film or a good documentary, but the reality is that the film manages to miss the mark to some degree because it’s void of the intended emotion. I needed more in that realm, and without it, viewers will likely struggle to fully understand the gravity of the situations in which the subjects exist. The title–Audible–is a genius play on words (if you know you know), and I think to some degree this is a reason that viewers will gravitate toward this film. I’m not sure that Audible deserves recognition at the upcoming Oscars, but the subject matter will certainly appeal to many, even if the emotion is never really expressed appropriately.
Directed by Matthew Ogens.
Starring Amaree McKenstry-Hall, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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