CODA is a heartwarming film to uplift the mood and spirit of people like us. The CODA means Child of Deaf Adults. It is a 2022 Oscar Award-winning movie from the USA.
This coming-of-age story is about the life and aspirations of a teenager Ruby, who is the only hearing member of her deaf family. Please note that the original 2014 French-Belgian movie La Famille Bélier has inspired the 2021 English movie CODA. Like the inspired film, the original film won a bunch of awards too.
Synopsis of the CODA (2021) movie
Teenager Ruby (Emilia Jones) is a CODA. She is the sole hearing member of a deaf family. Her daily life revolves around acting as an interpreter for her parents (Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur) besides working with her father and older brother (Daniel Durant) on the family’s struggling fishing boat every day before school.
Although she is blessed with a good voice, her parents and brother can’t hear her singing. Her life takes an unexpected turn when Ruby joins her high school’s choir club. She discovers her singing talent and finds herself getting attracted to her duet partner Miles (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) at the choir. In her endeavour, she gets encouragement from her tough-love choirmaster (Eugenio Derbez) as he advises her to apply to a prestigious music school.
What will Ruby do?
As she finds herself torn between the obligations she feels to her deaf family and the pursuit of her singing dreams?
Ratings of the CODA (2021) movie
| FM’s rating | 4.35/5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date | 94% Tomatometer and 91% Audience Score |
| Critics Consensus / Rotten Tomatoes | Its story offers few surprises, but strong representation and a terrific cast — led by Emilia Jones’ brilliant performance — bring this coming-of-age story vividly to life. |
Spoiler-free review of the CODA (2021) movie
The introduction
Fighting adversity, and then beating it with sheer determination and hard work, is a way to lead a good life. As we informed above, “La Famille Bélier” (The Belier Family) a French movie has inspired the CODA film. Although this film has a predictable storyline, it is packaged uniquely and innovatively.
The plotline
It is a fascinating watch. Ruby (Emilia Jones) – the Child of Deaf Adults uses sign language to communicate with her deaf parents and brother. For the sake of her Rossi family, she is willing to sacrifice her dreams, aspirations, feelings and emotions. Can she find a way out? That is the crux of this sweet human tale.
What did we like about it?
It is an inspiring film – watch it for the spirit and the sweetness of the Rossi family. Even though the Rossi Family is facing far too many challenges in their lives, they manage to overcome them in a heartwarming way. Never get bogged down by disabilities and adversities. Even when life throws a curve ball at them, they smile and hit that curve ball out of the park. It is an engrossing and fascinating tale about the human spirit that survives and thrives against all odds.
It has an amazing star cast
- Actor Troy Kotsur (plays Frank Rossi) is the first deaf male actor to win an Oscar award. Earlier, his wife in the movie Marlee Matlin (plays Jackie Rossi) was the first deaf female actress to win an Oscar award. More than three decades ago, she won the said award in the 59th Academy Awards ceremony in 1987 for her role in Children of a Lesser God (1986) movie.
- Marlee Matlin was involved in the casting of Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant in the movie, as she had already worked with these two actors in the past.
- Actor Emilia Jones (who plays Ruby Rossi) worked for nine months to study American Sign Language, take singing lessons, and learn how to operate a fishing trawler.
- At the end of the movie, when Ruby signs “I love you”, she crosses her index fingers, which means “I love you” in the sign language. (Note: It is shown in our featured image).
The conclusion
Kudos to its entire team for making a film that touches the hearts and souls of viewers like us. This a sweet and feel-good movie for all of us. A perfect soup for your soul, perhaps.
Watch it, it might cheer you up too.
Poster of the CODA (2021) movie
Key details about the CODA (2021) movie
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Music |
| Released | August 2021 |
| Age-restrictions | A (18+) |
| Director | Sian Heder |
| Writers | Sian Heder (screenplay), Victoria Bedos (motion picture “La Famille Belier”), Stanislas Carré de Malberg (motion picture “La Famille Belier”) |
| Cast | Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Eugenio Derbez, etc. |
| Taglines | Every family has its own language. |
Trailer of the CODA (2021) movie
Awards won by the CODA (2021) movie
| Awards Names | Awards Winners |
|---|---|
| Academy Awards, USA (2022) | CODA – Best Motion Picture of the Year – it is the first movie produced by a streaming service ( Apple+) to win the Best Picture Oscar Award Troy Kotsur – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – the first deaf actor to win an Oscar Sian Heder (screenplay) – Best Adapted Screenplay (2022) |
| BAFTA Film Award (2022) | Best Screenplay – Sian Heder Best Supporting Actor – Troy Kotsur |
| Golden Globes, USA (2022) | CODA – Best Motion Picture – Drama Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture – Troy Kotsur |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards (2022) | Troy Kotsur – Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Eugenio Derbez, Daniel Durant, Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo – Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
If you like this Oscar award-winning movie, then check out our FM article about All Quiet On The Western Front film, too.
Featured & Other Images: CODA movie – Ruby (Emilia Jones) signs “I love you” | Apple TV+.