CODA

CODA (2021)

Ruby Rossi is a CODA - a child of deaf adults - who assists her father and deaf brother every morning at 3am trawling for fish before falling asleep at her desk in high school. Bullied for her unorthodox lifestyle and aquatic odour and resigning herself to a future with the Rossi fishing business her horizons are expanded when she begins to excel in choir class. However, her triumphing in the arts means a severe blow to her family and she’s burdened with the impossible decision of putting herself or her family first.

Written and directed by Sian Heder (Orange is the New Black, Glow) it could be argued that CODA is a little formulaic. And, yes, aside from the principle cast communicating in sign language there’s nothing here that you haven’t seen before. But there’s a certain unassuming American drama that I fall prey to every time. Bohemian family relations? Tick. High school politics? Tick. An underdog with a hidden talent? Tick. And with the picturesque harbourside setting of Massachusetts it’s not unlike Dawson’s Creek and I’m fully on board.

Impressively Emilia Jones had to learn to sign, sing and fish for the role and is excellent as the overworked teen. Think a young Adele in plaid. Or Emma Stone dressed as Kurt Cobain for Halloween. The scene where her music teacher channels her untapped rage to sing with passion makes your hair stand to attention. Daniel Durant as her brother often steals the show. The frustration he exudes of having to rely on his younger sister to communicate for the family makes the screen crackle. Oscar winner Marlee Matlin (Child of a Lesser God) and Troy Kotsur play Ruby’s parents with adolescent glee. There’s an Ab Fab style role reversal with the parents behaving like horny teens and both Matlin and Kotsur are clearly having a lot of fun. Kotsur may be getting awards attention for Best Supporting Actor but my money would be on Durant.

Watch this on a Sunday afternoon to sooth the hedonistic weekend blues. What the story may lack in sophistication it makes up for in abundance with sweetness. Look no further than the concert scene when we watch the show through the eyes of Ruby’s dad. Perfect.

7 Capeside Thumbs Up! 👍🏻