esrosedotblog

LOUDER THAN WORDS

Today's film was

See What I'm Saying: The Deaf Entertainer's Documentary (2010)

I do not have any deaf people in my life. Period.

I tried to think of the last time I was with a deaf person.

It would have to be in the gay bars in Boston ca. 1974. There were some guys from a suburban school for the deaf. Some could speak. Others would not. They practiced the silent signals of the bar scene.

They were always in a group, hands flying. I thought they were dishing the crowd and they were. I got to know two guys who were friends of a friend.

I only mention this because it illuminates the preparation I had to see this film. In other words, none.

Without dragging us through the painful circumstances of the deaf (isolation from the hearing, sad family stories, intra cultural competition) it does show that life is not easy in a hearing world or even in a deaf world.

And these are entertainers! A comedian, an actor (who happens to be gay), a singer and a drummer.

Each has an aspiration to be heard in the deaf and hearing world and, by the end of the film, it is not a spoiler to say that we see parts of that goal realized.

And they do it through diligence and hard work. The old fashioned way.

By the end, they have also hooked up with each other.

I was impressed that none were on a pity trip. They saw the obstacles and took responsibility for themselves to get over or through them. To find another way.

I liked this film a lot and I liked the people. Amazing.

The documentary is very well made. So well made that I couldn't tell you what they did to make it work. It is not conventional.

I will give this a 3 out of Netflix5.

Labels: films