Growing up is hard to do. All of us have experienced the hardships of transitioning from a teenager to a young adult and making those vital decisions about which direction you want to begin to steer your life in are always tough. Additionally, though we’ve made a ton of progress, our society also still has a ways to go in its support of the differently abled. A fantastic new film explores the nexus of these two issues.
Set in Glouchester, Massachusetts, CODA introduces us to the Rossi family, Ruby (Emilia Jones), her mother Jackie (Marlee Matlin), her father Frank (Troy Kotsur), and her older brother Leo (Daniel Durant). Ruby is a Child of Deaf Adults, or CODA for short, and is the only hearing member of her deaf family. At 17, she works mornings before school to help her parents and brother keep their fishing business afloat. But in joining her high school’s choir club, Ruby finds herself drawn to both her duet partner and a latent passion for singing. Her newfound passion soon puts her at odds with her duty to her parents who depend on her to navigate an unforgiving world for the differently abled and her dream to leave her small town and start a life of her own.
CODA beautifully and effectively touches upon the challenges faced by those in the Deaf community through the depiction of the Rossis’ everyday interactions with those who can hear, including Ruby. As the audience observes the deaf members of the family attempting to navigate their daily lives, the unaccommodating nature of the world which we inhabit, and take for granted, is made plain. Simple tasks such as communicating with coworkers, having one’s concerns taken seriously, or simply being treated with a modicum of basic respect are made more tough for the deaf members of the Rossi family simple because of their hearing differences.
The relationship dynamic between Ruby and Leo as deaf older brother and hearing-able younger sister best encapsulates the struggles faced by those in the Dead community and their frustrating efforts to be regarded as just as capable as their hearing counterparts. The two siblings have a simmering, underlying tension that results from his feeling marginalized due to how much his parents depend on younger sister Ruby to be their liaison to the rest of the world due to her ability to hear despite his being the oldest. Leo’s typical eagerness to prove his adult capabilities as a young adult male are exacerbated by his need to do so as a person with a hearing impairment who is discounted by society writ large as a result. On the flip side, Ruby also feels burdened by her parents’ dependability on her as she tries to forge her own path in the world as a young woman and branch out to pursue her musical interests and talent.
The coming of age aspect of the film is well integrated into its larger exploration of the Deaf community’s struggles. In Ruby, we see a socially awkward teenager whose experiences in high school we can all relate to on some level; having a crush on a classmate, a family that’s loving but has its own issues over finances and other things, simply with the added challenges of being a CODA. Interweaving these universal struggles in her story, alongside the typical interactions of the Rossi family, help to establish the normalcy of the family and drive home the film’s larger point that the differently abled and everyone else share more in common than we are taught to believe. In the Rossis, CODA features a family that is uproariously funny and charming, but also experiences many of the struggles and spats that we all experience when living with those that we love dearly. This serves to not only make for an entertaining film, but one that is educational and enlightening for a society that still struggles to properly address and acknowledge those that are different from us in ability and certain physical aspects. Empathy is one of the surest paths toward understanding and CODA produces it through the depiction of the Rossis as no different from our own families in their interactions, hopes, dreams, and challenges in their intrafamily dynamics.
Aside from how well written Sian Heder’s script is, the performances and chemistry we are presented with from the film’s cast are what powers the film and makes it the heartwarming and thought provoking cinema that it is. Emilia Jones shines in the lead role as a young woman faced with the simultaneous challenges of trying to find herself and support her family who feel that they desperately need her. Jones balances the emotionality and levity demanded the role superbly, allowing the audience to empathize with her dilemma and creating a rooting interest in the outcome what she decides for her life. The eternally charming and mesmerizing Marlee Matlin lives up to her legendary status here as the feisty matriarch of the Rossi family that is hilariously blunt and open, but protective of her family nonetheless. She headlines a main cast that is representative of the Deaf community alongside fellow actors Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant who also impress as Frank and Leo Rossi respectively and helped to inform CODA with its authenticity of how those who are deaf speak and interact with the world. Matlin was insistent that deaf actors be cast in the roles in order for her participate and this, along with Heder’s decision as director to utilize the expertise of the Deaf community as much as possible, helped to make the film as impactful as it is.
Simply put, CODA is one of the best films of 2021. It perfectly meshes and balances laugh out loud humor, family drama, and a topical examination of the issue of inclusion for the differently abled into one entertaining film. The chemistry and performances of all its actors match the top notch writing and directing of Sian Heder who also imbued the film with the expertise and advisement of deaf actors, crew, and consultants to give CODA added authenticity and inclusion. Yes, you will hear much about how “important” this film is as a step in the right direction for diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, but above all else, it’s simply a great film that nails whichever metric you use to quantify that classification. Run, don’t walk, to see this one.
Image: Apple TV+
