Coda

Directed by Sian Heder

★★★★½

Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin and Daniel Durant in “CODA,” premiering globally on Apple TV+ on August 13, 2021.

After receiving every award it has been nominated for as of this writing, CODA has positioned itself as one of the strongest releases of 2021. The film follows Ruby, played outstandingly by Emilia Jones), a high school senior who is the only hearing member of her family. Her family (Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant) leans heavily on Ruby both in work and in other circumstances, but she finds herself wanting to do more besides work on a fishing boat, she wants to go to college and study music.

The basics of the story are mechanical and familiar, but it's the deft way director Sian Heder crafts her film, paired with the unique perspectives of its characters that makes CODA stand out. Heder has a deep understanding of her characters, their complexities and nuances coming to the forefront, and crafts a viewing experience that is at times triumphant, familiar and heartwarming.

The highlight of the film, however, is the incredible performances be-speckled throughout (fingers crossed come Oscar season). Emilia Jones feels like she was born for the screen. She has this sort of effortless truth in her performances that keeps the film grounded. Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin is unsurprisingly in top form, as Ruby’s mother, who expects a lot from her, possibly more than she realizes. Eugenio Derbez manages to steal each scene he is in (as he usually does), playing Ruby’s music teacher who encourages and challenges her to pursue her passion for music. Everyone is fantastic in the film, but it's Troy Kotsur who really steals the film. Kotsur has such an affecting understated-ness about his performance that really thrusts the films quiet moments of discovery into greatness. Specifically the scenes towards the end between he and Ruby are tear-jerking and here is hoping he doesn’t go under looked come awards-season, in what is currently my favorite performance of the year.

CODA exceeds in multiple ways, its title alone containing a double meaning, relating both to music and an acronym for Child of Deaf Adults, and through the smiles and tears will keep audiences engaged throughout. The film explores themes of being an outcast, how music can be therapeutic and an outlet for necessary expression, but it’s central focus on family (which seems to be the film theme of the summer) makes the film re-watchable and accessible for all audiences.