In the Land Of the Deaf

Opening with the moving sight of a deaf chamber ensemble vigorously signing a performance from sheet music, In the Land of the Deaf, an award-winning French documentary, brings the viewer into the world of the deaf in ways unlike any other film on the subject I've seen, and does so in a vibrant, almost purely cinematic, way. Very little actual talking goes on as the camera visits deaf children in school, watches a teacher coaching adults in sign language, and observes the wedding of a deaf couple...but to the eye, what's visible is a veritable explosion of language (often in conversations far more animated than those between "hearing" people). Watching kids eating lunch and signing furiously about their likes and dislikes, Santa Claus signing to a group of boys and girls whose eyes are virtually lit with wonder, and a newlywed deaf couple apartment hunting and struggling to communicate with prospective landlords, we see the day-to-day life of the deaf, as well as the inventive solutions they've adopted to cope with problems. And no matter what your level of interest in deaf culture, you'll be won over by a cute French boy named Florent (no kidding, he'll tie your heartstrings in a bow). Watching Florent so earnestly working to speak, feeling the vocal cords of his instructor for guidance, we watch a moment as beautiful and majestic as any in nature. A lovely eye and ear opening film. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)