A Hearing Child of Deaf Parents

I rarely review a movie, but a film like CODA is one in a million. Ruby Rossi is played by Emilia Jones, a high school senior and a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA). Throughout her life, she has been her parents’ personal interpreter, a role she has accepted until her choir teacher, Mr. Villalobos, played by Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez, discovers the beauty of her voice. Mr. V is so impressed by Ruby, he offers her the opportunity to audition for the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. However, Ruby has family issues to deal with and is often late for rehearsals. 

Frank Rossi, Ruby’s dad played by Deaf actor, Troy Kostur, is a New England fisherman having difficulties with industry regulators. He depends on Ruby to interpret for him, but she’s not being her dependable self. He is unaware of Ruby’s love of music, and she’s torn between her love of family and her passion for music. 

Changes are occurring at the docks; changes that will affect his livelihood. At a meeting attended by his son, Leo, played by Daniel Durant, Frank stands and signs his discontent. He nudges his daughter to interpret his off-colored signs that are applauded by the other fishermen. Emboldened by the reaction of his colleagues, Frank is starting to think that a deaf man can take a leadership role and make a difference. 

Jackie Rossi is Ruby’s mom, played by Academy Award winning actress, Marlee Matlin. She senses her daughter’s discontent, but doesn’t understand the draw of music. Why is music so important in her daughter’s life? There’s also a deep-seated fear of losing her baby to the hearing world. 

CODA is a movie for families. It shows the beauty of family life through the prism of a family who can’t experience sound, and their hearing daughter who is caught between two worlds. As a latent deaf adult, I was able to relate to the issues of the Deaf. Leo finds himself at a bar trying to socialize, but doesn’t have the communication skills to be successful. So, he sits, nursing his drink feeling very lonely surrounded by dozens of people. And when the Rossi family goes to see Ruby perform at the high school auditorium, Frank works hard at not being bored. Throughout the film I could feel the pain of the Deaf family frustrated in their inability to connect with the hearing world. 

My favorite scene was when Ruby auditioned for admittance to Berklee. When she sees her family in the balcony, she stops singing, then starts again to sign the words she singing in ASL. I was touched by the love and respect she showed for her family. 

The film, an Apple original, won the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Why? Like me, CODA touched my emotions deeply, causing me to cry and laugh throughout the film. Anyone with a heart and a love of humanity will adore CODA. 

Pop’s Rating:

More than…