Children of a Lesser God
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Movie Reviews of Children of a Lesser God
Movie Review: Emotionally Entertaining
Summary: 5 Stars
"Children of a Lesser God" is one of the best films released in 1986, starring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin. Its brilliant plot never loses its emotional value. Its story about a high school teacher, James, who teaches deaf students, then meets a deaf female janitor who doesn't speak, Sarah, is unique. As secrets are revealed about Sarah's past, the film becomes increasingly interesting. James and Sarah later fall in love, but the battle between Sarah and her inner demons prevents the relationship to function at the fullest. Such twists turns arise within the characters that keep audiences always awaiting anxiously for what happens next. Therefore, this film is more than a love story; it's a story about hope. Such combination adds more unique themes. The distinction between the spoken words and the sign language was brilliantly translated. Rather than typing subtitles on the lower screen during the sign language scenes, James usually speaks what they are saying. Many say that having subtitles may have likely ruined the film's emotional affect. Such accomplishment makes the writing more brilliant. Marlee Matlin became the youngest person to win the Oscar for the Best Actress catagory (age 21). Her role as Sarah proved highly difficult, considering she only expressed herself nonverbally. Her body language distinuish Sarah's emotions perfectly in every scene. Few others have accomplished this in such magnitude. Only one other actress has won an Oscar for playing a non-speaking lead role (Holly Hunter, "The Piano", 1993). William Hurt performs his role as James wonderfully. Though not as demanding as Matlin's role, his emotional value still holds on top. James struggles between love and reaching out are expressed beautifully in every scene. All other actors, major or minor, also perform their roles beautifully.
"Children of a Lesser God" is a wonderful film for those looking for powerful themes. This is sure to continue pleasing audiences for many more years. Its quality proves that this is destined to become a classic.
Movie Review: Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
I would have to wonder about anyone who gave this movie a bad review, is it lack of empathy, or just understanding?The acting was superior, and the tale was gripping. Even before I understood the issues personally, the movie was enlightening.
If it had a failure it was in assuming those of us with hearing understood the depth of the issues, and perhaps the play conveyed this more clearly.
One example: I learned to sign both ASL (American Sign Language) & SEE (Signed Exact English) I learned the latter first. SEE was designed by Hearing educators who felt it would help Deaf people learn to read better. It has a sign for each word corresponding to english, including signs for past participles, etc. "Going" is two signs "go" & "ing" In SEE "Are you going to the store?" requires seven signs. In ASL only three are required "You go store" The eyebrows are raised to indicate an interogative, (question) where telling someone (command) the eyes are squinted and covey a sort of forcefulness, (which is why some hearing people assume they are angry) but the same three signs are used. The "ing" is a hearing-designed sign flipping the little finger from the body towards the other person. If you sign for just one hour your eyes are getting tired, especially if you are using three times as many signs, and at that point when someone throws that "ing" at you it feels like they shot you between the eyes with a pellet gun.
ASL is simply a better language than the one designed by hearing educators who feel the deaf are "Children of a Lesser God." Whether it's thinking it's better for the deaf to learn how to speak, or thinking their language should be changed for their benefit, the message is the same, and the moviee did a good job of presenting this.
Movie Review: 5 questions you might be asking
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are reading this review, chances are you saw this movie many years ago and you might be asking yourself:
1) Does William Hurt talk unusually slow in this film, like he does in all of his films? Yes
2) Was this film like an afterschool special, filled with overwrought acting and obvious advice? No
3) Will the women have 80s big hair and be wearing shoulder pads? Quite possibly
4) Do I remember correctly that William Hurt's character speaks both the female and male dialogue in most of the key scenes? Oddly, yes. But we forgive it, because it is a necessary device.
5) Why is this film popping up in my subconscious, and why am I asking myself if I should watch it again? Because the film is better than you remember, and the ideas it discusses are still applicable to your conflicts today.
If you haven't watched the movie recently, I recommend watching it again. It is as strong as it was 20 years ago.
Please comment, express feedback, or suggest related movies.
Movie Review: In silence and in sound
Summary: 5 Stars
William Hurt and Marlee Matlin play the lead roles in this beautiful and fiercely passionate romantic drama. He is a teacher at the deaf school where she is a janitor. A relationship between both ensues and that's what the entire movie is about. William Hurt's James Leeds is deeply sensitive yet full of energy and zest for love and life. Marlee Matlin's Sara Norman is complex, multi-layered and oh so achingly beautiful. Their chemistry is amazing. You hurt when they hurt whilst also rooting for them.
The director somehow tackles the difficulty of using sign language in a film and her formula works perfectly. Also, Randa Haines manages to inject some real heartwarming humour in the form of the deaf students to balance out what could have otherwise been too serious a movie. Furthermore, the music is excellent. Children of a Lesser God is gentle little film and yet is raw sometimes.It ventures to take a stab at your heart and... succeeds.
Movie Review: Great Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Just finished watching the movie again after many years. I think it is a great movie. Shows the struggles of two people with different life circumstances bridging those differences and deciding it is more important to love than to be comfortable in the familiar.
I work in the educational system with deaf students and experience the speak/not speak philosophies all the time. Some kids go to the speech therapist and work on speaking - others choose not to. I decided to go to take ASL classes so I could communicate with them. I have seen cases where relatives of the deaf person refused to learn ASL and expected the kid to learn to talk and were upset when the kid did not want to.
The movie shows us to meet people however we can. Don't have any preconceived ideas or expectations or we will never be happy in the relationship.