Page One: “CODA” (2021)

Screenplay by Sian Heder, based on the motion picture “La Famille Belier”

The movie version of the opening:

This is what I call a soft opening. Nothing big. No great drama. A few scenes to establish time, place, tone, and — critically — key characters. Often while they engage in a favorite pastime or, as here, work (i.e., a fishing boat).

Two small things to note:

• Ruby loves to sing. In fact, the movie introduces her character through her singing before we actually see her, as we hear her voice as the camera closes in on the boat from a distance. It’s a subtle thing, but it sets up from the very beginning: This character has talent and she is passionate about singing. As this is a central dynamic in the story, the opening plants those seeds right up front.
• We do not learn that Ruby’s father and brother are deaf until after the boat docks. This is a bit of a feint. When we see them working together on the high seas, we have no reason to suspect their hearing issues. So when we do see the three characters signing once they are onshore, it comes as a surprise, an interesting twist.

CODA was my favorite movie at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor: Watch it.

You may download the screenplay here.

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

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