A few years ago I went to a session in a government building where they showed us "Children of a Lesser God". Unfortunately, we got less than halfway through, so I was only able to get the basic gist. Then a few months ago, Mark Medoff (who wrote the play on which the movie's based) died. I figured that I might as well watch the movie in his memory. It's one impressive piece of work. William Hurt's role as the teacher is a bit like the sort of role that Robin Williams occasionally played in dramas (the new person who comes in with his own ideas about how to do things, much to the chagrin of his superiors). But the bulk of the praise should go to Marlee Matlin, whose Oscar-winning role as the janitor makes her the only deaf person to have won an Academy Award, at least in an acting role (I don't know if any deaf people have won in non-acting fields).
It's truly a fine movie. It's a real pity that Randa Haines hasn't directed more movies (I suspect that they're not comfortable letting a woman direct). Moreover, the movie makes one understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities, whether physical or mental. If you ask me, sign language should be required so that deaf and mute people aren't so isolated.
It's truly a fine movie. It's a real pity that Randa Haines hasn't directed more movies (I suspect that they're not comfortable letting a woman direct). Moreover, the movie makes one understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities, whether physical or mental. If you ask me, sign language should be required so that deaf and mute people aren't so isolated.