Both Sides Now: CODA and its Dualities

The Sleepless Cinematic Podcast

For this cycle's "Mise-Unseen" entry, Madeline, Emilio and Julian finally pony up for Apple TV Plus subscriptions and see 'CODA', Sian Heder's 2021 Best Picture winning film. Like the Joni Mitchell classic at the heart of this film, the trio can't help but see both triumphantly good and puzzlingly frustrating aspects to 'CODA'. For all the powerful and winning scenes with the Rossi family (that scene on the pickup truck!), there are clunky and shallow ones with most every other peripheral character. For all the great ways this film centers and empowers its deaf actors and main characters, it also short changes the viewer with an overly predictable narrative. And this group of musicians can't help but weigh in on the music plot line. From up and down, and still somehow, there is genuine appreciation for this film, but not without some nits to pick.
For those who are deaf or hearing impaired, a full written transcript for this episode can be found on this episode's Buzzsprout link!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2269866/14621363
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