Synopsis
The protagonists of this film may not be able to hear, but that definitely does not leave them without words. Sign language represents a parallel universe full of magic and expressive power which remains unexplored for the vast majority of people. Ayse, Helene and the non-hearing members of the Hager family don’t lament their inability to hear music or birds singing: after all, these are sounds they have never experienced. Fighting for their native language, they employ different techniques to master their lives, walking the line between hearing the world and refusing to be silent.
A word from Tënk
Seeing Voices by Dariusz Kowalski portrays various Deaf characters in Austria. It shines a light on the often seen conflicts between Deafhood identity and the medicalization of deafness. We follow the early life and experience of a Deaf baby born into a Deaf family and how he is able to develop language early on through the constant exposure to sign language. Many important and often neglected topics are introduced to the audience in this film, such as the unfortunate use of CODAs (children of Deaf adults) as interpreters and the lack of high quality education for Deaf citizens. Politicians, advocates and Deaf educators rally for the recognition of sign languages as official languages, but yet access to information and adequate employment remain to be significant barriers for many. These are the same issues faced by Deaf people all over the world. In this film, Dariusz Kowalski skillfully interlaced the beauty and nuances of Deaf culture into the reality of living as a Deaf person. Even if you knew Deaf culture already, this is a 21st Century documentary that summaries the current struggles that remain. For those unfamiliar with the topic, this film may leave you with more questions than answers as it takes you into a world you never knew existed.
