Oscars honor 'CODA' (and people with hearing disabilities)
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2024 6:28 am
CODA stands for Child of Deaf Adults and is the title of the film that won the Oscar for Best Picture of 2021. Directed and written by Sian Heder, 'CODA' tells the story of Ruby, the only hearing person in a family from Gloucester, Massachusetts.
The film focuses on Ruby's dilemma: whether to study and be able to devote herself to music or to stay with her parents and brother and take care of the family business. But the message of 'CODA' goes much further: it shows the talent of people with disabilities and is a plea for diversity in cinema. A large part of the cast is made up of deaf people and almost half of the film is in sign language, specifically in ASL (American Sign Language), the North American version. 'CODA' is a remake of the French film 'jamaica phone number data The Bélier Family', but in that first version, the actors had to learn to sign.
First Oscar for a hearing impaired actor
In addition to the awards for best film and best adapted screenplay, 'CODA' won a third statuette at the 94th edition of the Oscars: best supporting actor for Troy Kotsur, who thus became the first actor with a hearing impairment to win an Academy Award. "It's our time," he said when collecting his statuette.
The award for best supporting actor was met with applause from everyone in the Dolby Theatre, as expected. Unlike other ovations (and the moment for Will Smith and Chris Rock), these applauses were not heard. But they were seen: the audience waved their hands in recognition of Kotsur, of 'CODA' and of the visibility that its success brings to people with hearing disabilities.
Still from CODA. © Apple TV
Another of the film's achievements is that it has popularized some of the signs of the American language. During the promotion, it was common to see the actors raising the pinky, index finger and thumb, a sign that means "I love you." But there is a variation, crossing the index finger and the middle finger, as Ruby does in one of the final scenes. Meaning? "I really love you." For some reason the full title of the film is 'CODA: Signs from the Heart'.
The film focuses on Ruby's dilemma: whether to study and be able to devote herself to music or to stay with her parents and brother and take care of the family business. But the message of 'CODA' goes much further: it shows the talent of people with disabilities and is a plea for diversity in cinema. A large part of the cast is made up of deaf people and almost half of the film is in sign language, specifically in ASL (American Sign Language), the North American version. 'CODA' is a remake of the French film 'jamaica phone number data The Bélier Family', but in that first version, the actors had to learn to sign.
First Oscar for a hearing impaired actor
In addition to the awards for best film and best adapted screenplay, 'CODA' won a third statuette at the 94th edition of the Oscars: best supporting actor for Troy Kotsur, who thus became the first actor with a hearing impairment to win an Academy Award. "It's our time," he said when collecting his statuette.
The award for best supporting actor was met with applause from everyone in the Dolby Theatre, as expected. Unlike other ovations (and the moment for Will Smith and Chris Rock), these applauses were not heard. But they were seen: the audience waved their hands in recognition of Kotsur, of 'CODA' and of the visibility that its success brings to people with hearing disabilities.
Still from CODA. © Apple TV
Another of the film's achievements is that it has popularized some of the signs of the American language. During the promotion, it was common to see the actors raising the pinky, index finger and thumb, a sign that means "I love you." But there is a variation, crossing the index finger and the middle finger, as Ruby does in one of the final scenes. Meaning? "I really love you." For some reason the full title of the film is 'CODA: Signs from the Heart'.