CODA (2021 film) movie review

 CODA is a heartwarming drama/musical drama film. Directed fantastically by Sian Heder and beautifully performed by Emilia Jones as Ruby the lead character. As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family's fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself pulled between pursuing her passion at Berklee College of Music and her fear of leaving her family.

    

    This film has touched viewers with its phenomenal acting, cinematography, and musical performance. The film expresses the hardship of a deaf family with a fishing business that is going through a hard time surviving. Moreover, the family relies upon their youngest daughter Ruby the only hearing member of the family to do everything in their lives including business transactions, daily chores, and piloting a boat. However, Ruby meets her dilemma when she found her passion through music. She has to make a decision whether to pursue her passion or leave her family to rely on their own without an interpreter.

" There are plenty of pretty voices with nothing to say. " - Bernardo Villalobos

(Quote from the film)

    The deaf cast made the film more authentic and realistic. It exposes the deaf minorities' adversity in their lives.  It also wakes the people with awareness of the deaf communities. Other than that, viewers will recognize universal elements of family life here -- deep love, sibling rivalry, the parent's desire to hold on, and the child's need to break free.