Marlee Matlin: No Longer Alone - 2025 Sundance Film Festival Critique

      **Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, 2025.**

      **Directed by Shoshannah Stern.**

      **Cast: Marlee Matlin, Shoshannah Stern, Henry Winkler, Lauren Ridloff, and Troy Kotsur.**

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award, stepping into the limelight at the age of 21. Through her primary language of American Sign Language, Marlee reflects on her life and the intricacies of being a pioneer.

      Shoshannah Stern has achieved historical significance twice. As a Deaf director, she finally has the opportunity to lead in an industry that often resorts to stereotypes rather than innovation. Additionally, she has created an extraordinary documentary about another trailblazer, deepening our understanding of Deaf cultural history. My role in this narrative is as a deaf-blind critic, able to appreciate films largely thanks to Marlee’s advocacy.

      We exist in a society that favors hearing culture over Deaf culture. It took 35 years for two Deaf actors to receive Oscars—first, Marlee Matlin in 1987 for *Children of a Lesser God*, and later, Troy Kotsur in 2022 for *CODA*. By centering on Marlee, Shoshannah illustrates how far we’ve progressed (and how much further we still need to go). The documentary features honest, personal interviews with Marlee and those close to her, along with archival footage.

      In 1987, as Marlee became famous for her role as Sarah, a Deaf custodian at a School for the Deaf in *Children of a Lesser God*, she was unprepared for public scrutiny. Many critics shared problematic views, claiming she was ‘sensually lost’ in a swimming pool and that her Deafness was something to overcome. Some even doubted her career trajectory, suggesting a ‘deaf-mute’ actor would struggle to find similar roles again. Compounding her challenges was an abusive relationship with her co-star, William Hurt.

      Being Deaf can lead to isolation, especially when access to signers and interpreters is limited. Communication relies on a community of senders and receivers, and vocabulary is developed through shared experiences. When someone has few individuals to communicate with, their access to information diminishes. Marlee experienced isolation due to her limited connections with other Deaf individuals and the dynamics of her abusive relationship, where her abuser expected her to be entirely reliant on him. A critical message of the film is that Marlee was unaware of the concept of ‘domestic violence’ due to language deprivation.

      This context highlights how Marlee's career and advocacy have focused on enhancing communication between Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing individuals to minimize unnecessary isolation. Marlee fought for closed captioning on televisions and all content, resulting in legislation in the early 90s that mandated closed captioning on American TVs (allowing me to enjoy shows like *Wishbone* and *Zoom* during my childhood). Aware that damaging stereotypes about Deaf people lacking the ability to speak were gaining traction, she spoke at the 1988 Oscars and pursued roles that challenged perceptions of Deaf individuals.

      A recurring theme in the film is the significance of choosing one’s mode of communication. Marlee’s announcement of the Best Actor nominees in 1988 sparked backlash within the Deaf community, as many felt her alignment with hearing people was a betrayal. Nevertheless, she aimed to counter the narrative that she could not speak and thus was unworthy. This creates a paradox: must one adopt the traits of the oppressors to provide their community with greater acknowledgment? Given the isolation Marlee had endured, she faced criticism regardless of her choice—using sign language led to pity, as evidenced by her Oscar win, while speaking resulted in condemnation from a Deaf culture she was just beginning to discover. Ultimately, she did both, satisfying neither side, and it is only in hindsight that we recognize the sacrifices of a trailblazer forced to advance without clear direction.

      Marlee and Shoshannah possess the ability to reflect on a period when society struggled to understand Deafness and Deaf culture, and to illustrate how, in 2025, some aspects have improved while others have worsened, ensuring the film's lasting relevance.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★**

      **Michael McNeely – Find me on Letterboxd**