With CODA‘s historic wins at the 2022 Oscars on Sunday night, the film, its cast and its creative team helped spotlight American Sign Language and ASL interpretation in a series of historic moments for the Deaf community.
The entire CODA cast closed out the 94th annual academy awards with their big best picture win, taking centre stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to sign applause as they accepted their honour with an ASL interpreter next to them. Yet, the historic night for CODA’s team began much earlier in the ceremony, with best supporting actor winner Troy Kotsur’s speech. Along with his heartfelt acceptance and tribute to his father — a win that marked only the second time in Oscars history that a Deaf actor has won and the first time a male actor has received a performance honour — the moment garnered attention partly because of Kotsur’s interpreter, Justin Mauer. After working with Kotsur throughout awards season, Mauer got choked up while signing the actor’s speech and patted the Oscar winner on the back as they exited the stage.
Directed by Sian Heder, the Apple tv original tells the story of a young girl named Ruby played flawlessly by Hollywood newcomer Emilia Jones. Ruby is a gifted singer born into a deaf family. Being the only hearing member of her family, she helps serve as an interpreter for the small-town family business, until she is conflicted between being supportive and chasing her dream which is to go to music school at Berkeley.
CODA is storytelling at its finest. It is simple and sophisticated. Devoid melodrama nor performative diversity nor activism all blended in stunning visuals that make it deserving of the recognition it bagged.
It takes more than receiving awards at ceremonies for the issues involving the deaf community in film and reality to be appeased. But that is in no denial of the history of under-representation of disabled people on television. This is a pivotal moment not just in the present, but for the future. If the deaf community can attain prominent recognition for effort and excellence in film, it is only a matter of time, this representation of deaf people and sign language transcends to all spheres of society and culture.
By Israel Olorunnisola