CODA

Love watching this film each time. Tension: Will Ruby choose her passion or her family? Will Ruby's family understand her needs? Theme: Deaf people should be treated as equals, loving someone means being willing to let them go, harder choices have to be made to grow, everyone has their own perspective on hardships, if you have a passion then you need to pursue it, involve the ones you love in the things you love. Writing: Whoever wrote this had to have experience around deaf people, there were so many little things to take into consideration. I would like to read the script for this one. There are so many perspectives thought out in these characters. Everyone has a motivation and objective they are fighting for that clashes with the people around them. I watched this with some other people who were pointing out that the writing was pretty sexual, but I actually think that all of the writing had a purpose, none of it was thrown in there just for kicks and giggles. It was trying to show things like deaf and hearing people can have strong relationships together as well, deaf people love passionately and take that for granted just as much as anyone else, the awkward parents scene had the purpose to show what it must feel like to have to stand up for your family without them even knowing. So yeah, maybe the language could have been a tiny bit softened but I think there were some important things that needed to be shared through it. That's my TEDTalk. Acting: You can really feel it in the signing and Ruby's life all around. It gives an eye into a culture not easy for many of us to see. Cinematography: So many beautiful shots at the lake. And at the recital, the ending, dang. It wasn't trying to be showy or anything, it just lets the viewer appreciate the environment and life itself in the context. Sound: The recital scene where it goes silent is my favorite part of the movie. Such a great demonstration of the power of sound and how it makes a huge difference. Also the music was beautiful, and didn't try to sacrifice movie quality by forcing music numbers, they were willing to cut themselves off for the story which I appreciate. Editing: Only editing that sticks out to me right now is the montage at the end, there were a few montages though throughout. HMU/Costume/Set Design: Amazing locations, beautiful in a very simple way. FX: n/a