Many stories have been told about misunderstood teens with parents and siblings who can’t see them for who they are. They turn up on the big and small screen in everything from after-school specials to sitcoms to classic films of the 1950s and ’60s. CODA is the story of one such teenaged girl, but there’s a hitch. This time, the family in question can’t hear her for who she is, because all of them, except for the daughter Ruby, are deaf. CODA is an acronym for “child of deaf adults,” and it’s also a term for the final, unique passage of a music composition. This double meaning describes both the setting and premise of this beautiful film. High-school senior Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones in a terrific performance overlooked by the Academy) discovers she has a voice. A singing voice. And the undeniable truth is that her parents and brother will never hear it.
The Rossi family makes a living as many of their generations have before them—fishing off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Ruby rises before the sun each morning, long before most of her schoolmates would ever consider getting up, to board a fishing boat with her father Frank (Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur) and brother Leo (the equally wonderful Daniel Durant) to help bring in their daily catch. Ruby is the ears of this meager but mighty crew, listening for other boats and radio calls. Her mother Jackie (Marlee Matlin, also excellent) remains on dry land, keeping the house in order as well as the books for the family business.
Ruby has a tight-knit family but lives as an outcast, never fitting in with most of her classmates and others in the community. She was teased when she first started kindergarten for “talking funny,” like a deaf person, and many of her peers still point and laugh whenever they see her with her family. On the other hand, it’s refreshing and often humorous watching her mother and father live their own best lives with such joy and fearless passion. They are very much in love and have a healthy, active sex life, something that “grosses out” their daughter to no end. They tease each other, as do Ruby and her brother, but the bond between them is rock solid.
It’s assumed by all that Ruby will join the family business after graduation, but things take an unexpected turn when she chooses choir as an elective her senior year. Ruby has her eye on a cute boy named Miles (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo). She registers on impulse when she sees him sign up, despite the fact that she’s never sung in public and is terrified to do so. But she bails out and leaves the class on her first day, much to the frustration of music teacher Bernardo Villalobos or “Mr. V,” for short (Eugenio Derbez). When she comes back later to sing for him, it’s clear Ruby has an unusual gift—a pure, natural singing voice. The disgruntled Mr. V downplays it at first, gruffly pointing out, “There are plenty of pretty voices with nothing to say. Do you have something to say?”
Mr. V starts to coach Ruby with private voice lessons in hope of preparing her for a college scholarship audition. At the same time, the family’s fishing business runs into serious trouble. Due to increased fees and unrealistic sanctions levied by the local board, the Rossi family leads the way in forming a co-op with other dissatisfied fishermen. They will sell directly to markets and individuals, bypassing the board, but this change of course takes a lot more time and effort to pull off. They rely heavily on Ruby’s support, and when they learn she’s taking voice lessons with dreams of being a singer, they feel confused and betrayed. Jackie, in particular, sows the seeds of doubt in her daughter. As a mother, she views it as a typical act of youthful rebellion and remarks, “So, if I were blind, would you want to paint?” Jackie isn’t trying to be mean, which is clear in Matlin’s heartfelt performance. She is scared for herself, her family, and for her daughter Ruby. She doesn’t want any of them hurt, and this threatens their family unit.
To make matters worse, Frank and Leo go fishing one morning without Ruby. When a federal observer comes aboard for a surprise inspection and discovers they are deaf, they are intercepted by the Coast Guard. In addition to a steep fine, their license is suspended. Ruby helps appeal their case, and the suspension is revoked under one condition: they must have a hearing person on board at all times. Knowing they are unable to pay for another crew member, Ruby tells her family she’ll forego college in order to join them full-time after she graduates. This infuriates Frank, who asserts they can get along fine without her.
When Jackie, Frank, and Leo attend Ruby’s choir concert, they study the audience’s reactions and behavior, which is fascinating to watch. At one point, while Ruby sings a solo, the sound drops out. We hear what they’re hearing … nothing. It’s a powerful moment to observe them trusting their daughter, her teacher, and the people around them who show without question that Ruby is gifted. Later that evening, Frank sits alone with Ruby in their backyard. He asks her to sing the solo for him again. When she obliges, he gently puts his hands on her throat to feel the vibrations. Watching Troy Kotsur in this moment of understanding, it’s no wonder he won an Oscar for his performance.
The entire family drives with Ruby to her college audition, and they sneak up into the balcony so they can watch. Ruby starts to sing “Both Sides Now,” by Joni Mitchell, and when she spots them smiling down with unconditional love and support, she raises her hands and begins to sign the song for them. It’s the perfect emotional climax for this film. The tears flowed for me, and I’ve rarely heard this song sung so well. Emilia Jones has the purest and simplest singing voice. No “vocal gymnastics,” in other words. This is not about range or riffs. As Mr. V told her, many people have impressive instruments. Or as I like to say, you might own a Stradivarius, but few know how to really play it. Ruby has something to say with her voice. It’s a message of inclusion from someone who has lived life from both sides and different perspectives. An outsider, trying to find her way to empathy. It compels me to listen … just like Joni, Cass Elliot, Judy Collins, Jennifer Warnes, and others. There is a unique truth and beauty in the tone, in the performance, in the art … and the message is received, loud and clear.
CODA
Director | Sian Heder |
Primary Cast | Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Amy Forsyth, Kevin Chapman |
Familiar Faces | none (no repeat performers from the previous winning films) |
Firsts | First movie distributed by a streaming service (Apple TV+) to win Best Picture, first Best Picture to debut at the Sundance Film Festival, first deaf male actor to win an Oscar (Troy Kotsur), first film with a largely deaf principal cast to win Best Picture |
Total Wins | 3 (Picture, Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur, Screenplay: Adapted) |
Total Nominations | 3 (Picture, Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur, Screenplay: Adapted) |
Viewing Format | Streaming (exclusively) |