Réalisation:
Siân HederScénario:
Siân HederPhotographie:
Paula HuidobroMusique:
Marius De VriesActeurs·trices:
Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin, Amy Forsyth, Kevin Chapman, John Fiore, Owen Burke (plus)VOD (1)
Résumés(1)
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 torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. (Sundance Film Festival)
Critiques (4)
La trivialité pleine de cœur. Encore un adolescent qui veut quitter sa famille qui a besoin de lui pour atteindre quelque chose de plus, pour faire valoir son talent. Et c'est ainsi que tout le monde l'appréhende. Pourtant, c'est peut-être le premier film américain avec des personnages sourds-muets et le langage des signes. Le film, bien qu'il copie le sujet et les scènes clés de l'original européen La Famille Bélier de 2014, y ajoute également de nombreuses idées, et dans l'ensemble, il est parfaitement réalisé et joué. L'Oscar du film de l'année ? Le film n'a pas été réalisé dans le but de l'obtenir, il a été réalisé par une femme et, avec le cœur et l’invention narrative susmentionnés, il aborde la vie des personnes handicapées. Donc, toutes les prédispositions sont réunies.
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Tout est si doux, plaisant, irréprochable… Mais en faisant fi du contexte particulier et de ses éléments, le schéma est totalement banal et éculé et ne peut surprendre aucun spectateur.
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CODA is a fairly faithful remake of the French comedy The Bélier Family. Director and screenwriter Siân Heder further developed the supporting characters in particular and chose deaf actors to play the roles of the deaf, so we can enjoy watching the excellent Troy Kotsur. With his relaxed performance, Kotsur greatly contributes to the authenticity of the scenes from the life of the deaf. Those scenes are in fact more authentic than Ruby’s fantastically easy transformation from a timid outsider into a capable young singer. Without the trio of non-stereotypical deaf characters, CODA would be just another banal flick about growing up and chasing the (American) dream. The central conflict between the family and singing is not enough to carry the film for two hours and it doesn’t create much tension, since we know how everything will turn out in the end. In order to maintain the comfortable atmosphere, the filmmakers don’t put any major obstacles in the way of the likable characters. On the contrary, they make everything as easy as possible for them. At school, Ruby affectionately gazes at a classmate. A few scenes later, she is chosen to sing a duet with him. Though Ruby sang only for herself before joining the choir, it sounds from the start as if she has had voice training. Other potential complications also easily disappear. Is the family being exploited in the fish trade? No worries, they’ll just start their own business from one day to the next. Ruby can't afford to pay for further education? No problem, here’s a scholarship. The pianist doesn't know the song Ruby chose? Someone will surely show up to fill in for her. The main thing is not to stress out about it. The Rossi’s, as bearers of nothing but positive qualities, don’t deserve any major troubles. Other than the fact that they work with their hands and are deaf, we learn practically nothing about them. It’s as if they live in a vacuum devoid of politics, culture and religion. The environment of deaf members of the working class serves only as a superfluous backdrop for one teenager’s inspiring story. However, it’s possible that the stylistic caution and subordination to clichés is an effective way of making the life of a community that is rarely seen in the media digestible for a broader audience. In any case, if CODA works despite its lack of directorial invention and minimal distinctiveness, then it works not as a film about the deaf (who are merely staffage in the hearing-abled protagonist’s mediocre story), but as a dramedy in which everything is calculated to elicit tears or laughter. 65%
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If you haven't seen the French original La Famille Bélier, CODA might hit all the right notes with its heartwarming story and feel-good vibe. However, the French version is definitely funnier and deserves a bit more praise. That said, CODA does a solid job, and I appreciate the switch from a farming setting to a small American fishing town. Overall, it’s a touching remake that still delivers, even if it doesn’t quite surpass the original.
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