Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones) is what’s known as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), and she is the only hearing person in her family. It becomes apparent that her family’s fishing business may not last much longer, and new avenues have now been opened to Ruby as a result. However, Ruby is conflicted about how she should proceed; should she stay with her family and support them through the impending difficult times, or should she chase her dreams of music and attempt to attend Berklee College of Music? There is no right answer.
This is it; CODA is the final film nominated for Best Picture that I need to watch before the Oscars air on March 27th (well, today). I’ve seen some wonderful films such as Nightmare Alley and The Power of the Dog, and CODA is different from every other film in this category. It touches on a topic that not many films are willing to, because it can be troublesome, and it can be hard to reach viewers with a film that often uses sign language rather than a spoken language. Films like Eternals and A Quiet Place have recently taken the plunge and attempted to break the barriers that exist for the non-hearing population in Hollywood–and it seems that it’s working–because here we are, preparing for the 2022 Oscars, and a film led by a primarily deaf cast is on the radar for the best film of the year.
Let’s be honest, filming with a number of cast members that communicate via sign language can pose some struggles, but allowing those individuals the same opportunities is only fair. One of the most unique situations that anyone must have found themselves in throughout the course of developing CODA is Jones attempting to split time between speaking English and American Sign Language–as she is ultimately tasked with more than anyone else on set. While it’s not necessarily her job to translate for everyone, that’s essentially the role she plays throughout the film. Constantly making the transition between the two languages is a tall task, and seeing how flawlessly Jones makes that transition time and time again shows the world how incredibly talented and intelligent she is. Jones makes the film, and her ability to convey emotion in a number of ways is attractive and impressive.
The narrative present in CODA is magnificent; it incorporates everything that we know about life into it, but it adds a beautiful twist that allows viewers to see a different side to the struggle of life. Less than ten percent of the population know first hand what Ruby’s situation is like, and with a percentage that small, it can be difficult to express to the rest of the world what their lives are like. When a group of people attempt to express their thoughts and opinions to the majority, it often comes across as aggressive and divisive, making it difficult for viewers to appreciate what they are seeing and hearing, but CODA makes it a point to express these things without beating the veritable dead horse. Writer-Director Siân Heder aims to make CODA as accessible as possible, and she does just that. By being honest without being too pushy, the world now understands better than before what it’s like to be part of the deaf community.
There is a massive amount of content to dissect throughout CODA, and that begins with the narrative. However, the slew of emotion that exists throughout the film is of immense importance, and it’s possible that through everything else going on that the emotion is lost on viewers. While viewers may have to work a little harder than usual to reach the emotional relevance of this film, the fact is that it’s ripe for the picking, and if viewers give just a little bit of effort, they are likely to unlock a world of emotional excellence. Marlee Matlin (Jackie) and Troy Kotsur (Frank) are incredibly talented. They need to use their bodies to convey emotion throughout the film, and they do so brilliantly. The inflection in an actor’s voice, or their ability to get louder or softer depending on the situation isn’t something that Matlin and Kotsur have the luxury of, and they are required to exhibit emotion through body language–and their abilities are nothing short of perfect.
While CODA focuses on a deaf family and the one hearing family member’s struggle as a result of the rest of her family, it deals with the real-life issues that family members face every single day, regardless of who they are or where they’re from. Feeling like you're being strangled by your family, whether intentional or not, is something that a majority of the world deals with on a regular basis, and CODA attacks this reality head on, letting viewers know they are not alone.
CODA is one of the most beautiful stories of 2021, and it absolutely deserves to be considered for Best Picture of the year at this year’s Oscars. It’s exciting, meaningful, and honest. CODA touches on a number of familiar and unfamiliar topics, and it runs the gamut of emotion throughout the course of its storyline. It’s a wonderful film, and it truly is one of the best of 2021.
Directed by Siân Heder.
Written by Siân Heder, Victoria Bedos, Stanislas Carré de Malberg, Éric Lartigau, & Thomas Bidegain.
Starring Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, Amy Forsyth, Kevin Chapman, Marlee Matlin, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
Comments