Great Scene: “CODA”

Ruby wants nothing more than to go away to college to study vocal performance. But there’s her unique family situation to deal with…

Plot summary: As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her passion at Berklee College of Music and her fear of abandoning her parents.

Screenplay by Sian Heder, motion picture “La Famille Belier” by Victoria Bedos & Stanislas Carré de Malberg & Éric Lartigau & Thomas Bidegain

Scene setup: After watching Ruby perform at a high school concert, her father goes outside to think.

Here is the movie version of the scene:

The script uses italicized dialogue to indicate when characters are using sign language to communicate. What’s interesting is the movie does not use subtitles, instead allowing the audience member to interpret what’s being communicated. The result is a moving scene which prompts the father to change his mind about Ruby’s desire to go away to college.

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