‘CODA’ film review: A compelling story that finds its own groove and does not waste its talent
The Hindu
If there is one movie you watch in 2021 and you want it to be a feel-good one, let it be Sundance-winner ‘CODA’ for its inclusivity of the deaf community, a love for music and its coming-of-age wonder
If you think CODA is going to be your run-of-the-mill ‘disability’ movie, you’re in for a surprise. Directed by Siân Heder (writer of Orange Is The New Black and director of Talullah), it is an organically-told story of a family that happens to be deaf and adapting to financial challenges and raising a family. But there are waves of humour in this film, some dark and some cringe, but all welcome. . The film — an English remake of 2014 French comedy-drama La Famille Bélier — follows the Rossi family, who reside in a seaside town in Massachusetts. Daughter Ruby (Emilia Jones) is a 17-year-old high school student who happens to be the only hearing-abled person in her family. She occasionally helps her older brother Leo (Daniel Durant) and father Frank (Troy Kotsur) run their family-owned fishing business with starts to face some financial hardships. Her mother Jackie (Marlee Matlin) is both affectionate and somewhat over-dependent, which often drives Ruby up the wall.
A vacuum cleaner haunted by a ghost is the kind of one-liner which can draw in a festival audience looking for a little light-hearted fun to fill the time slots available between the “heavier” films which require much closer attention. A useful ghost, the debut feature of Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke being screened in the world cinema category at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), even appears so in the initial hour. Until, the film becomes something more, with strong undercurrents of Thailand’s contemporary political history.

Sustainability is not an add-on, but stamped firmly into the process: every piece is biodegradable, waste-free and unembellished, free from glitter or beads. “Products should be sustainable and biodegradable so that our planet is not harmed,” says Anu Elizabeth Alexander, a student of Sishya, Adyar. At a recent exhibition, the stars she made sold the fastest, followed by the small diamonds. “I would like people to know about the process, how it is created, and that it is sustainable,” says Anu. Infanta Leon from Kotturpuram developed an interest in crochet as a teenager. It was a hobbyhorse that evolved into a steed that would help her embark on a journey of identity-shaping creative engagement. She started making Christmas-themed decor two years ago, spurred by a desire to craft safe, eco-friendly toys for children. “With a toddler at home, and my elder child sensitive to synthetic materials, I wanted to create items that were gentle, durable and tactile,” she explains. Her earliest creations were small amigurumi toys which gradually evolved into ornaments that could adorn Christmas trees with warmth and charm.











