CODA, 2021

Rated PG-13

Ruby Rossi is a senior in high school and the only hearing member of her all-deaf family. She helps her older brother and parents with the fishing business after school and on weekends, but her passion is singing and she’s good at it. Ironic? She signs up for choir when she sees her crush do so too, but chickens out at auditions.  She comes back for a second chance, and Mr. V, the teacher, accepts her after seeing her potential. He also chooses a duet for her and Miles (the aforementioned crush) to start practicing.

The family relies on Ruby; she’s the only one who can hear the radio on the boat. As an interpreter for the business, she shoulders a great amount of stress in doing so. We can tell there’s a level of protection she’s proud to take on, but also burdened by, so it’s a doubled edge sword. When she’s overscheduled from pursuing music and practicing for an audition at a prestigious music school, she puts the business in jeopardy and adjustments have to be made. The parents have used her as a crutch; the brother wants to be able to try running the business on their own… so will they let her be her own person and pursue her dream of music?

I really enjoyed watching this coming-of-age story. I kept saying how “refreshing” it was to watch a film that made me feel a nice range of emotions and also didn’t have me shutting my eyes from gratuitous violence or unnecessary sex scenes, or rolling my eyes from the overuse of curse words or certain agendas being shoved in my face.

The title of this film was simple and perfect. CODA is an acronym for Child of Deaf Adults. Ruby is the CODA as this film gives us a peek into her daily life as the only hearing person in a family of non-hearing individuals. But also, a coda is a musical term. It is an element, long or short, that signifies the end of the song or composition. It brings the piece to a close. As I reflected on this, I couldn’t help but see Ruby’s own eloquent coda in the final scene of the film. She’s being whisked off in her brother’s girlfriend’s car, but has to stop and get out for one last group hug. Then she flings her arms out of the window to sign “I love you”. The end. 

CODA was up against “Dune”, “The Power of the Dog”, “West Side Story”, “Belfast”, “King Richard”, “Drive My Car”, “Don’t Look Up”, “Nightmare Alley”, and “Licorice Pizza”. (I had only seen Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story”, and while I thought it was excellent, I didn’t think it was going to win). CODA won all three awards it was nominated for (making it the 7th in history for a clean sweep like that) including Best Adapted Screenplay (it’s a remake of a 2014 French film) and Best Supporting Actor (the dad, Frank).

I probably couldn’t get away with talking about this year’s award show without mentioning “The Slap Heard ‘Round the World”. When comedian Chris Rock came out to present an award, prior to listing the nominees, he motioned to Jada Pinket Smith sitting in the front row, and said, “Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see you.” He was referencing Jada’s closely shaved head (which is a hairstyle she has chosen to proudly flaunt while suffering the effects of Alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss and/or thinning). Jada’s husband, Will Smith, got up, quietly walked up onstage, stood squarely in front of Chris, slapped him across the face, and walked back to his seat. Once there, he yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f--in’ mouth!” Now, since this is my blog, I’m obviously representing my opinions, and I’m not interested in starting debates. I know that we are living in volatile times where tensions are high and points of view can be polarized. But here are my quick two cents: Was the joke insensitive? Sure. Chris is a comedian. It’s common knowledge that comedians hit below the belt. Most of a stand-up’s routine is either spent shelling out uncomfortable truths, backward revelations, or jabs that nobody else is brave enough to say. If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen. You’d think Hollywood actors would’ve grown some tougher skin than this by now. Doesn’t anyone remember Ricky Gervais? What you DON’T do if you don’t like a performance by a comedian, or a musician, or an actor, or ANYONE, is walk up on THEIR performance space and assault them. I was in musical theatre for years. It frightens me to think that if I offended someone by singing offkey, I might get a bicycle kick to the neck these days. Chris handled it like a pro onstage. Will should’ve been escorted out that evening; instead, he went on to receive the award for Best Actor that evening (and later, the Academy announced he’s not to return to the Award Show for 10 years, thankyouverymuch). I think Will is a brilliant actor, so I truly hope he's taken a step back and done some personal work and accountability. 

MEMORABLE SCENES:

Ruby’s family attends her class’s recital (along with her brother’s girlfriend who helps interpret). It’s a touching scene because you can sense Ruby’s nervousness and excitement to perform and the pride she takes in her family being there even though she knows they won’t be able to truly enjoy it. It’s also a little heartbreaking to watch her parents look around the room at the faces of the other parents. They’re wondering if their daughter is any good. They see the entire audience smile, nod along, and even tear up at such a moving performance. This was the one time in the movie where the director decided to take our hearing away too which I thought was a very interesting and well-timed choice. We sat in silence for part of the duet and in solidarity with Frank and Jackie as they just watched their beautiful daughter do something she professed she loved doing. At the end, they waved their hands in utter pride. 

 

When they returned from the recital, Ruby’s dad asked her what the song was about and for her to sing for him again. Her placed his hands on her throat and neck so he could feel the vibrations and asked her to sing louder. It was a touching, bonding moment. 

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. Keep those lines of communication open in the teen years. I admired Ruby’s relationship with her mom. They joke around but they also have a sweet heart-to-heart when Jackie is vulnerable and admits something that’s hard to hear. You can tell that has only come from years of practice and little “check-ins”.

2. Sometimes, teachers are the saving grace in a kid’s life. If you’re a teacher and you’re reading this, never underestimate the power you have in motivating a student. Your encouragement (even if it comes from a place of “tough love”) may be just what this one kid needs to hear to change his/her mind, or make him/her feel loved, appreciated, valued, or heard.