Original-Cin Q&A: Marlee Matlin On Playing the Deaf Mom of a Hearing Teen in the Sundance Winner Coda
Already garnering awards, Coda is a new film starring relative newcomer Emilia Jones as Ruby, the only hearing member of a deaf family from Gloucester, Massachusetts.
At 17, she works mornings before school to help her parents and brother keep their fishing business afloat. But in joining her high school's choir club, Ruby finds herself drawn to both her duet partner and her latent passion for singing.
The film also stars Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant as her parents and brother.
Coda nabbed a record four awards at the Sundance FIlm Festival: the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast, the Directing Award, the Audience Award and the Grand Jury prize. It begins streaming on APPLE TV+ on August 13th.
Our Bonnie Laufer spoke with Marlee Matlin - a Best Actress Oscar winner for Children of a Lesser God - about why she was drawn to the material and why Coda is such an important film.
Emilia Jones and Marlee Matlin play daughter and mom in Coda.
The interview was conducted via sign language by her long-time interpreter Jack Jason, who would speak while she signed.
Jason and Matlin have been an interview team since the beginning of Matlin's career.
CLICK HERE to watch Bonnie’s interviews with director Sian Heder and cast Troy Kotsur, Emilia Jones and Daniel Durant.
ORIGINAL-CIN: Marlee, this film is really resonating with audiences who have had the chance to see it. What was it about this story that connected with you that made you want to be in it so badly?
MARLEE MATLIN: For the longest time I wanted the chance to do a film like this because it really represents what this family goes through in their everyday lives. There are so many wonderful stories within the deaf community, and when this one came my way, I was eager to share it.
It was a long time coming, from when I made Children of a Lesser God, I hadn't seen anything of this caliber that connected with me. I know that there have been some films here and there. But there was nothing that was on a scale of this film, where you had three characters who were deaf, carrying a film.
O-C: This family is so real and beautifully portrayed.
MATLIN: Yes, realism was important to me. Also, it was such a sweet story, a lovely family, a hard working family, a family that loves each other and who are there to support each other. Clearly, you have a story here that's universal about a family and their children. It's also a coming-of-age story about a young girl, who's trying to find her identity, and it's a film for the entire family.
PROUDLY SUPPORTS ORIGINAL-CIN
O-C: Let’s talk about your character Jackie, the mom. In the beginning, she's quite hesitant about her daughter wanting to break away and live her life. She's got her reasons, I understand that. But it was frustrating for me as a mother to watch that. Did it frustrate you as an actor to play a woman like this?
MATLIN: It did. But Jackie at the end of the day is human. She has this motherly instinct within her. But being a mother of four myself, I can understand how Jackie didn't want to let go.
I had a completely different perspective and I would have approached it differently and that's the difference between Jackie and myself.
O-C: It’s a lot of pressure on their daughter Ruby, who is the only one who can hear in the family. So they depend on her for pretty much everything.
MATLIN: Absolutely, and in some ways the family is used to being so reliant on her, they forget that she needs to have her own life too.
For example, in that one scene where Ruby comes home after school one day and Ruby says, “I want to be a singer.”
And I say, “A singer? Where does that come from? We've never heard about your interest in singing. You've never expressed any fascination with singing.”
Jackie said that, and then compared it to, “If we were blind, would you want to be a painter?” I cringed when I read that (line), and it made me feel ill thinking about having to say those lines. I had a hard time with shooting that scene, to the point where we stopped shooting and I had to have a discussion with the director.
Every mother has a different approach and I guess after thinking about it a lot, you can't fault Jackie for what she said and how she feels.
O-C: Tell me about your impressions of Emelia Jones who plays your daughter, Ruby. What she did for this role is above and beyond. I can’t imagine you not immediately embracing her and treating her like your own real-life daughter!
MATLIN: I would tell everyone she was my daughter. (Laughs) Everybody knows this, but any guy who wants to date Emilia, has to go through me first!
In actuality, she was and is a godsend, she really is. I don't think I've ever met an actor who gave as much as she did to the film and her role.
She was 17 years old at the time we shot this film. She had to wear so many hats to play Ruby. She had to play an interpreter, she had to learn sign language, she had to learn how to fish. She had to change her British accent to an American accent. She had to sing.
It was the whole package and at such a young age to be able to do it all with such ease and grace? She blew me away every single day! I was in awe and I was also very inspired. I hope that people recognize and are inspired by her, knowing that if you have that kind of talent, you can do whatever you want. I'm so grateful that Sian was able to cast her.
O-C: A true pro, it was so inspiring to watch her in this film.
MATLIN: I honestly couldn’t imagine anyone else taking on the role. She has her head on her shoulders and I thank her parents every day.
Her mother Claire is amazing and she's so supportive. Emilia is going to go far in this business, and it has a lot to do with her family and the strong foundation they have given her.
O-C. Sian Heder, adapted Coda as an English-language remake of the French-language film La Famille Bélier (directed by Éric Lartigau). Here we have a director who is not deaf. Why did you put so much trust in this woman?
MATLIN: Well, remember I grew up in both worlds, the hearing and deaf world. So, I don't judge people whether they're deaf or hearing. It doesn't matter to me if someone is hearing or deaf, just the same as I do not judge anyone by color, or religion.
As a director, I think it's important to have a good relationship, a good dynamic or good working dynamic, knowing that you're going to be working together for the film or a show.
What ultimately impressed me was that she did her homework. She got involved in deaf culture because it was important. That's what the film is about, knowing the deaf culture and experiencing it through this family. She directed us very well. She put her trust in us, which quickly developed in us trusting her.
Plus, she put up with my sense of humor, which is a lot (to ask). (Laughs).
I was a fan of hers before I did CODA because she did a movie called Tallulah, which I loved. I think her work is brilliant, so I was glad that I could check working with her off my bucket list.