Hollywood Movie ‘CODA’ To Change Theatre Experience For The Deaf

A special Hollywood movie ‘CODA’ is set to change the era of movie-going for deaf people.

Going to the movies isn’t much fun for deaf people as screenings in theaters with captions are limited and the special glasses and equipment needed to read them are often broken or unavailable.

The movie “CODA,” which is about the only hearing member of a deaf family, will definitely make a difference in the cinemas when it is screened with open captions that need no special equipment in all U.S. and U.K. movie theaters and showtimes, starting Friday.

“It couldn’t be more groundbreaking, (just) as the film is groundbreaking in support of the deaf community and the hard-of-hearing community,” said Marlee Matlin, who plays a deaf mother in the film. Matlin is the only deaf performer to ever win an Oscar, for best actress in “Children of a Lesser God” in 1987.

“CODA,” an acronym for child of deaf adults, won four awards at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It also will be streamed with open captions on Apple TV+, starting Friday.

Apple worked with movie theater operators to ensure the film would be played everywhere, for deaf and hearing audiences alike, with the captions burned into the print in what is thought to be a first for a feature film release in theaters.

“It is historic. It is huge for all us,” said Daniel Durant, a deaf actor who plays son Leo. “This is a day we have waited to see for so many years.”

Durant said while some scenes give the specific viewpoint of deaf people, the appeal of “CODA” is universal.

“Anyone who watches this can feel connected with it because everyone comes from a family, and every family goes through similar struggles – kids growing up, what are they going to do in their future, becoming independent, maybe they’re moving away from their family,” he said.

“Oftentimes I think deaf people are left out of the movie-going experience because of devices that don’t work and lack of devices in theaters” the writer said.

 “I don’t go to the movies. I can’t wear those glasses. They make me nauseous. Half the time they don’t work so I’ve just stopped going to the theater.”  A deaf man said at a recent screening with the open captions in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where the film was shot.

The filmmakers hope the open caption screenings for “CODA” will persuade other studios to follow their example, and will encourage deaf people to try movie theaters again.

S.S/Reuters