CODA (2021)

Directed by: Sian Heder | 111 minutes | drama, music | Actors: Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin, John Fiore, Lonnie Farmer, Kevin Chapman, Amy Forsyth, Courtland Jones, Molly Beth Thomas, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo

‘CODA’ is the American indie remake of the French ‘La famille Bélier’, and is written and directed by Sian Heder (who made the Netflix film ‘Tallulah’ in 2016). CODA stands for Child of Deaf Adult and here refers to teenager Ruby Rossi (handily played by Emilia Jones). Ruby is the only hearing family member: both her parents Frank and Jackie (Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin) and her older brother Leo (Daniel Durant) are deaf. When she turns out to have a talent for singing and wants to follow her passion, it causes problems at home. Ruby must choose between her own happiness and the responsibilities she bears for her family.

After the world premiere at Sundance, ‘CODA’ won the Audience Award, the Jury Award and the Best Direction award. Then Apple put a huge amount (twenty-five million dollars!) on the table for the film, which was then released on Apple TV+.

The Rossi family own a fishing business in a small Massachusetts town, but rising taxes make it difficult to make ends meet. In addition, they depend again and again on Ruby and her ability to interpret between her deaf family members and the hearing world for the negotiations. She has been doing this all her life, which has made her parents increasingly dependent on her. Now that she is in the last year of school and wants to follow her own path more and more, Ruby not only has to learn to stand on her own two feet. Will she follow her dream of auditioning for the Boston Conservatory or will she take her place in the family business?

‘CODA’ is a coming-of-age film, in which it is sometimes a little too over the top, but in the end it all works. The translation from the French countryside to an American fishing town has been successful; the financial struggles of the working-class family put additional pressure on the teenage girl who realizes what it means to pursue her dreams. Although the plot is quite predictable, the film still manages to remain subtle enough to hit at the right moments. This is mainly due to the strong acting of the deaf protagonists, but Emilia Jones is also pleasant as the uneasy teenager who faces adult life. Plus, she can actually sing.

In the end, Sian Heder doesn’t make exciting choices, which means that ‘CODA’ has become a somewhat boring film at its core. At the same time, there is not much to criticize and the whole is well put together.