A truly lovely and touching film. Smartly fashioned, wisely orchestrated, and tenderly performed; this is an easily watchable and highly enjoyable heart-strings puller. A profound expression of drama both unuttered and unheard, but devastatingly manifested.
Like the ocean, for which their livelihood depends, there is depth within each character and situation. Much more complex and nuanced life on screen than one might anticipate. The acting is affecting and expressive, especially from the young protagonist Emily Jones and her character’s brother, Daniel Durant . Marlee Matlin was good but I guess I expected a punchier piece from such a powerful actor, but she sits back and plays off the rest with aplomb.
The musical choices, especially Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell’s “All That I Need” and Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”, we’re near perfect choices - lots of thought and symbolism and that paid off immensely. It is a film about the lack of sound but also the congenial beauty of music.
The communal nature of music and the isolation of the deaf is delicately but eloquently stated here. They placed everyone in difficult situations with no easy answers and sure, things get a bit Hollywood towards the final act, but they have earned the audience’s goodwill by being funny, heartfelt, and expressive. I was hooked into the characters and the drama without it all being hackneyed or bombastically cliched. This is a damn fine indie dramedy coming of age story that I would certainly recommend.
