CODA (2021)

Do not miss this unique twist on an oft seen young adult romantic comedy. On the surface, it tells a pleasantly familiar coming-of-age tale, following a talented small-town girl from modest means with dreams to study music in the big city. There's an idealistic teacher, an adorable crush, some moving rehearsal montages, a high-stakes audition, and naturally, a family reluctant about their offspring’s ambitions to leave home for the big city. You do not have to dig very deep to find so much more. Ruby is the only hearing member of her family, and while the deaf depricate the hearing world, they rely heavily on Ruby to communicate for them, and it takes a toll on her. Something they do not give her credit for until she is about to go away. Emily Jones, the actor who plays Ruby, does a remarkable job, and I read that she had to learn to sing, to sign, and to fish on a trawler for this role, and she did brilliantly at them all. Well worth seeing!