CODA

CODA

As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family's fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents.

  • Released: 2021-08-11
  • Runtime: 112 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
  • Stars: Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Eugenio Derbez, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, Amy Forsyth, Kevin Chapman, John Fiore, Lonnie Farmer, Courtland Jones, Molly Beth Thomas, Ayana Brown, Jason Pugatch, Kyana Fanene, Anilee List, Stone Martin, Maeve Chapman, Stephen Caliskan, Amanda Bradshaw, Bryan Sabbag, Kayla Caulfield, Samidio DePina, Dominic Andersen, Jose Guns Alves, Owen Burke, Lance Norris, Mark Pettograsso, Tony Viveiros, Armen Garo, Jared Voss, Emilia Faucher, Marilyn Busch, Melissa McMeekin, Erica McDermott, Garrett McKechnie, Rebecca Gibel, TJ Ciarametaro, Gary Galone, Nikki Kim, Mary Ann Schaub, Cassandra Berta, Sarah Clarke, Rena Maliszewski, David Newsom, Kiara Pichardo, Pamela Jayne Morgan
  • Director: Siân Heder
 Comments
  • Turfseer - 22 May 2024
    Glee Meets Deaf Culture in CODA: Unique Themes, Predictable Plot
    CODA tackles the unusual subject of deaf individuals, but its narrative remains disappointingly conventional.

    Ruby Rossi, a timid teenager, is the sole hearing member of her family, which includes her parents, Frank and Jackie, and her brother, Leo. The family depends on Ruby to interpret for them while managing their fishing business.

    The central conflict emerges when Ruby decides to pursue a singing career, spurred on by her demanding high school music teacher, Mr. Bernardo "Mr. V" Villalobos. Ruby's budding romance with fellow choir member Miles takes a hit when he betrays her trust, revealing intimate details about her parents to a classmate. This breach leads to significant tension, with much of the film dedicated to Miles' attempts to make amends.

    In CODA (Children of Deaf Adults), the film highlights societal prejudices against the deaf community. Although some instances may be exaggerated for dramatic effect, they serve to underscore the challenges faced by the family.

    The movie oscillates between two distinct settings. The first is the fishing business, where Frank's decision to cut out the middleman and start his own enterprise reflects his frustration with exploitation. The second setting resembles the world of Glee, with Ruby's vocal talents showcased in a school concert.

    The dark moment in the second act occurs when Ruby is swimming with Miles, and Frank and Leo go fishing with a federal observer unaware of their deafness. Their boat is fined, and their licenses are suspended by the Coast Guard for not responding to signals. Ruby refuses to take the blame, arguing she can't always be their interpreter. After appealing, their licenses are reinstated on the condition of having a hearing person onboard. Ruby decides to skip college to join the family business, supported by her parents but opposed by Leo, who fears she'll regret missing college.

    The film follows a predictable trajectory from there. Ruby's parents eventually take her to audition at the Berklee School of Music, where she triumphs with a stirring rendition of Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides Now.' An implausible twist occurs when the once-prejudiced fishermen rally behind Frank's new venture, learning sign language to ensure smooth operations.

    Despite the formulaic plot, the performances are solid, particularly Emilia Jones as Ruby, who evolves from self-effacing to confident. Jones's captivating voice adds depth to her portrayal.
  • liubowei-85876 - 8 February 2024
    Truly touching and innovative work!!
    I have to say that "CODA" is the best movie of the year 2021. Not only because it's touching plot and incredibly good acting skills of these characters, but it also created a silently storytelling methodology, differ from the previous completely silent movies due to the technical aspects. CODA has the magic of the vintage silent films and amazing modern lens language ,picturing skills. FYI, this movie is really worth watching.

    Get ready to be moved by the love magic in this deaf family! They don't need words or sound to express themselves,Their love for each other as a family is the loudest language spoken!😭😭