Tuesday, April 5, 2022

CODA (2021)

 Short for 'Child of Death Adults', CODA's win for best picture was the second most shocking thing to happen at this years Oscar ceremony. A remake of a 2014 French/Belgian co-production, CODA is set in Gloucester, Massachusetts and concerns a family of deaf fisherman with one hearing member. Rubi Rossi (an endearing Emilia Jones) signs up for choir her senior year to be near a boy she likes, choir director Eugenio Derbez quickly discovers that she is a supremely talented singer, and offers to help her get into a prestigious music school. This up ends things for her family who have come to depend on her hearing ability, and are unable to apricate a talent they only vaguely understand. 

'CODA' treads some well worn coming of age territory, but offers a unique enough twist on things to avoid becoming too trite. The material is further elevated by strong central performances from Jones, Derbez, and Marlee Matlin, and Troy Kotsur, who earns his best supporting actor Oscar here. The film is funny, heart warming,  and perhaps surprisingly unpretentious. Your mom would like 'CODA'. ***1/2

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