When music sprouts in silent families

CODA

Have you ever thought about what life would be like if you were born unable to speak and could only face the questions of others with a confused face? Have you ever thought about what life would be like if you were born deaf and wandering in a silent world What would happen; have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had all five senses, but lived in a deaf family?

Spoiler Warning

Ruby, a girl who loves to sing, lives in such a deaf-mute family who makes a living by fishing. Unlike her parents and brother, Ruby is a completely normal high school girl, the only person in the family who can hear. She likes to indulge in music while riding with headphones, and she likes to sing while catching fish. Every day she helps her family maintain the fishing business and acts as a sign language interpreter. Because of her obsession with music, Ruby joined the high school choir. Her talent for singing and her love for singing impressed choir leader Bernardo. He offered Ruby an interview at Berklee College of Music, but the family burden was always Trapped with Ruby, Ruby must choose between her dream and her family.

"The Hearing Girl" was a successful adaptation of the French film "The Belliers" and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. The story line of this film is like an old-fashioned conventional game between dreams and reality, but the seemingly boring story is lively and vivid because of the selection and shaping of characters and the connection of music. First of all, the film focuses on the disadvantaged groups in the film and reality - deaf and mute families with physical disabilities. The film contains a lot of sign language scenes. The interpersonal communication between Ruby's parents and brother is completed through sign language. Sign language, as the only means of communication for deaf people, also provides contradictions in the film. Not everyone can sign language. In fact, most people can't sign language. Automatically creates a sense of isolation. The older brother also fights because he feels isolated in the bar and stimulated by rude drinkers. Deaf people are also restrained by their voices. Ruby's parents felt inexplicable insecurity at first when they heard that Ruby was going to sing for college, because they had never been exposed to any music and lacked the concept of singing quality. . However, the communication barrier is still the biggest conflict between their family and the outside world. Ruby is the only family translator and is very important. If she goes to college, the burden on the family will be greatly increased. The unconventional family configuration of a able-bodied girl living in a deaf-mute family makes it easier for the audience to empathize with Ruby's perspective and be attracted by this rough family.

The film's most gripping depiction of deaf-mute people is the part where the Ruby family goes to see the Ruby's concert. On the stage, Ruby shines brightly, her singing is moving, and all the listeners applaud. The camera suddenly turns to Ruby's parents, and the rest is only boundless silence, infinite silence, not even a breath can be heard. The contrast between the silent and the singing is so strong, strong enough to make the audience perfectly immerse in the world of the deaf and mute. There is no beautiful music in this world, only a quiet and terrifying nothingness. After listening, everyone stood up and applauded, and then the parents got up and encouraged.

Secondly, the film does not deliberately sell miserably because it depicts disabled people. The Ruby family are dedicated fishermen for generations. Even with the help of Ruby's translation, it is difficult to imagine how hard their lives are, from being revoked their licenses. That passage shows how much the absence of sign language interpreters can affect a family of deaf fishermen. Most of the portrayal of parents in the film is positive, even a little funny, lubricating the plot with witty banter.

The image of an adolescent girl like Ruby is also well polished. Although she has been ridiculed many times since she was born, she still pursues music wholeheartedly and voluntarily serves as the umbrella for the entire deaf family.

The film resolves conflicts with gentleness as much as possible, and dissolves conflicts with sincere family love. The parents' love for Ruby far exceeds the lack of understanding and distrust of music. The contradictions are gradually diluted in the repeated exchanges. The mother and Ruby have a heart-to-heart talk, and the father touches Ruby's throat and feels her singing. It's a moving part of the movie.

Other characters in the film are also worth mentioning. Ruby's mentor, Bernardo, is perverse and principled, and has an artist's breath. It was he who discovered Ruby's singing talent and insisted on cultivating it, provided Ruby with a precious life opportunity, and turned back halfway in the final exam room without hesitation to assist in the end, which shows that he cherishes Ruby.

Ruby's boyfriend Miles carries the ignorant beauty of adolescence in this film, and at the same time forms a small contrast with Ruby at the end - his family asked him to attend Berkeley College, and the passive attitude towards music announced that he finally The failure of Ruby, but because of the support of the family, his love was successfully admitted.

Of course, from a personal point of view, there is still a little rhythm problem in this film. I always feel that something is missing. The portrayal of the relationship between my brother and girlfriend is also somewhat lacking. The image of Ruby's boyfriend Miles has not been fully established. It seems that It is just the existence of Ruby's adolescent additive. At the end, Ruby lacks the connection from singing in the interview to the success of admission, and the rhythm is too fast to reduce the audience's psychological expectations for its recognition.

Despite the flaws, CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) is still a good film worthy of quiet appreciation. Loving family and sticking to dreams are the core meaning of life conveyed by "Listening Girl".

The article was first published on the public account "Lucky who loves American dramas"

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