Reviewed by Sunchica Unevska
Towards: CODA, directed and written: Sian Heder, starring: Troy Cotsur, Marlee Matlin, Emilia Jones, Daniel Durant, Eugenio Derbez, cinematography: Paula Huidobro, music: Marius De Vries, USA/Canada/France 2021
Leaving doesn’t always mean separation
“CODA” is a story about life challenges, about the inevitable changes, about understanding, about family, but also, in general, the values in life that seem like something already seen or maybe banal, but they are not at all. Why? Because these are inexhaustible topics, always current and always put to the test. To make a film or a work of art doesn’t mean that you have to be different or original, but it means to be able to look at life, to be able to recognize in the smallest things the true values, which in fact are never something given forever. On the contrary, they hide so many different meanings in themselves, which can make life hell, no matter how banal it may sound to someone. The greatest value it is not what we ignore or what we think has already been absolved, but the power in all those
things to see the eternal themes that correct us before the inevitable course of life, which, one way or another, is inescapable.
It is interesting that in the story of the deaf-mute (CODA is an acronym for a child of deaf-mute parents) many see the same life pattern and pathos when it comes to their own accomplishment, about separation from family, about maturation, for everyday problems that are essential, for “dependence” on each other, for unavoidable expectations and accusations, and even for love. But, this is absolutely not the case. Because, as much as we want to admit it or not, these are two worlds, those who are deaf and those who are not. We seem to want to believe that we have understanding and there is no need to ask, but the movie “CODA” shows that gap very well, not because of something bad or misunderstood, but because it really is. Because these are two worlds, which in some strange but “ordinary” way, diverge, and it is no coincidence that they distrust each other. We often don’t think about it, but when you see the movie, you see the reality that is here, but to which most often, if we haven’t need, we don’t pay attention.
Yes, the film is “easy”, simple, cute, full of humor, so to say and “pathos”, but it contains everything that represents life, everything that is imposed when that two worlds collide or coexist. That is why it is extremely valuable, precisely because of those life truths, which need to always be talked about, but without the slightest accusation, without accident or problems, except for the “inevitable” ones. The film doesn’t put the theme of the deaf in the foreground, because there is no need, but in the background are captured so well those essential problems and essences, but without condemnation or regret. They are “the most ordinary”, like all others which try to face the professional barriers, with the daily temptations, with parenting and the hardships it brings. Although we see the truth and the prejudices, even in them there is no condemnation, but there is truth, there is a reality that needs to be talked about.
In fact, the choice it to be such an “ordinary” film, with a simple and even heartbreaking story, is remarkable. Because, already in that, there is a big message, namely, we all go through similar experiences in our maturation as children or as parents, more or less, we all encounter problems, with certain expectations or prejudices. The movie should evoke emotion, it should make us identify, it should make us see, sometimes what is in front of us, but we don’t see it, the film occasionally has to follow the pattern to realize that even those patterns, as well as our expectations of them, are not always the same. You may say that there is a tendency for this family to be more perfect than others, but even here there is a reasonable point of view, because problems can bring people together, to make them rely on each other, although as good as it is, it can be a burden, even when you least expect it.
Interesting is the frequent self-belief that everything what we do is to be the best for our family, especially our children. But, life is so unpredictable, and the good relatively, and in it everyone always has his side. The director and screenwriter, Sian Heder, very wisely makes the whole film with humor, freakiness and a cute positivity, but the good thing is that through all this she manages to capture so realistically the story of life, of changes, but also of prejudices. Sometimes children really know how to confront us with something we least expected, and that is to look at our beliefs, which can also be full of prejudices, and in general, not being aware of it, convinced that we are protecting them.
“CODA” is a wonderful film, which even today in this technological age, reminds us what is worth living for and what really moves art. These are not the usual and expected patterns, but the smallest and most invisible things that can take things in an unexpected direction. This is where the famous line is somehow imposed, that when a butterfly flutters its wings on the one side of the world, can cause huge storms on the other side of the world. It maybe a well-known fact that small things make the biggest difference, but it seems to me that we are not aware of it at all or don’t think about it.
Many people think that it takes a long time, but is that so? Fluttering the wings always waves things, but it only depends on us whether we see and accept it. Change is not easy, although Heather does it with such easiness, it’s not easy to cope when everything you believed in suddenly turns upside down. Prejudices are a big deal and it’s very difficult to change things in essence, that's exactly the size of the movie.
It's a valuable film, because it makes us to see that not everything has to change, in order to move things. After all, radical change doesn’t mean solving or escaping from prejudices, on the contrary, changes must carry within themselves the basis from which they originate, only then are they real. Heder manages to achieve that, and so do her actors. All their problems and “collisions” are until they face them, and until they see that, in fact, basically nothing will change except their perception, except their adaptation and allowing the birds to leave their nest. “CODA” is also an entertaining movie, pleasant to watch, well shot, with beautiful music and such an easy joke with some “hardened” opinions, but it is the hardest to achieve. “CODA” manages to bring us the big picture so easily, which we think has absolved us, but if we are honest, it is not at all. And, its simplicity is its greatest virtue.
What will happen when things move from their slot, what will happen when things become so ironic, that Ruby's mother believes that her singing is a resistance to them, who is convinced that if she were a blind her daughter would be a painter. What will happen when you become aware, that the prejudices that bother you, maybe doing it for others, not just to those who listen, but also to your child? Innocent, maybe not wanting to, but the parents are aware that the son may feel neglected, but they think that it is normal, and it’s not. Exactly him seeks the right changes, saying that it is proper for others to learn how to communicate with them. It's the same with Ruby, she would surprise them when she said that translating all her life was so exhausting for her, and then at one point her father said that she had never actually been a baby. Not that there is condemnation in that, there is not. For Ruby, the connection with them, as well as for her brother, is the source from which she draw energy. There is so much beauty in that picture when Ruby translates the song at the audition for her loved ones (without whom she never felt whole).
Yes, there is a pattern and Hollywood pathos in the film, but not one that is banal, repeated so many times and meaningless. No. “CODA” is a film full of life, with emotions and depth, it is extremely psychologically nuanced, which reaches us not only because of feelings or excessive passion, but mostly because of the vitality and those small, tiny (invisible) wisdom, of which we are often unaware, but who know how to move the world, the great one or ours, whatever.
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