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(out of 5)

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William Hurt goes to work at a school for deaf children and befriends a young janitor (Marlee Matlin) who was once a pupil there. Getting to know her, he realizes she has been avoiding the outside world from fear, and through their friendship and eventual love affair, they give each other much in the way of confidence and emotional awakening. Piper Laurie is fantastic in a small role as Matlin’s emotionally restricted mother, who finally comes to grips with the ways in which she failed as the mother to a hearing-impaired child. Hurt is his usual colourless self, while Matlin does quite an impressive job with the role; to be fair, she got better later on, even if Hollywood never really had enough work for her to show off in. An emotionally satisfying, deeply felt experience, and one of the bigger dramatic successes of the eighties.

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USA, 1986

Directed by Randa Haines

Screenplay by Hesper Anderson, Mark Medoff, based on the play by Mark Medoff

Cinematography by John Seale

Produced by Patrick J. Palmer, Burt Sugarman

Music by Michael Convertino

Production Design by Gene Callahan

Costume Design by Renee April

Film Editing by Lisa Fruchtman

Film Festivals:  Berlin 1987

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Cast Tags:  Allan R. Francis, Allison Gompf, Ann Hanson, Archie Hahn, Barry Magnani, Bob Hiltermann,Charlene Legere, Christopher Shay, E. Katherine Kerr, Frank Carter Jr., Georgia Ann Cline,Gigi Vorgan, Jack Blessing, James Carrington, John Basinger, John F. Cleary, John Limnidis, Jon-Paul Dougherty, Laraine Isa, Leigh French, Linda Bove,Linda Swim, Lois Clowater, Lynne Marie Stewart, María Cellario, Marie Brazil, Marlee Matlin, Max Brown, Nanci Kendall, Nicholas Guest, Philip Bosco, Philip Holmes, Piper Laurie, Richard Kendall, William D. Byrd, William Hurt

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Academy Award
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Marlee Matlin as “Sarah”)

Nominations
Best Actor in a Leading Role (William Hurt as “James”)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Piper Laurie as “Mrs. Norman”)
Best Picture (Burt Sugarman, Patrick Palmer, producers)
Best Writing (Screenplay Based on Material From Another Medium) (Hesper Anderson, Mark Medoff)

Golden Globe Award
Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama (Marlee Matlin)

Nominations
Best Motion Picture-Drama
Best Performance By An Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama (William Hurt)

Los Angeles Film Critics Award Nomination
Best Actress (Marlee Matlin)

National Board Of Review Award
Top Ten Films

Berlin Film Festival Award
Silver Berlin Bear

Writers Guild Award Nomination
Best Adapted Screenplay

Directors Guild Award Nomination
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (James Ivory)

British Academy Award Nomination
Best Screenplay – Adapted

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