From Silence to Sound

Filmmaker Chase Matthews' documentary offers a profile of Justin Garrett, who went from being profoundly deaf to being able to hear as a result of surgery performed when he was 27. Interviews with Justin, family members, medical professionals, and others sketch the story of a life transformed by a decision to embrace the hope of a medical solution that also carried significant risk. Diagnosed at age 2, Justin experienced a challenging childhood: his divorced parents, Dean and Debra, found it difficult to care for a child with special needs, so the shunned lad rebelled, especially in light of their more favorable treatment of his younger sister, Emily. As Justin grew older, kids teased him, he couldn't maintain friendships, and his mother kicked him out after he graduated from high school. Although things improved after Justin met the woman he eventually married, his disability continued to cause problems (hearing aids weren't an option due to the degree of his deafness). At the suggestion of audiologists, he finally opted for a bilateral (double) cochlear ear implant, a major procedure that doesn't work for all candidates. Matthews follows Garrett as he prepares for the surgery and incorporates footage from his time in the hospital, as well as the months afterward, as his hearing improves. Although emotional and moving, From Silence to Sound avoids pathos, letting the dramatic story unfold in a simple, direct manner. DVD extras include interviews with the filmmakers and a Q&A at the L.A. premiere. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)