Children of a Lesser God (1986)

Children of a Lesser God

I have been friends with a woman who is deaf for almost 25 years. In fact taught me to sign. I am now teaching deaf in a public school. My friend grew up in a residential school. Marlie Matlin's character reminded me so much of my friend, that I spent most of the movie crying. It was a wonderful movie! It really showed me some insight to how my friend grew up. October 26, 2008

Remarkable

Children of a Lesser God. Directed by Randa Haines
A very interesting study of Mute and deaf people. Rand Haines (Antwone Fisher) Directed this film where we encounter the problems of these unfortunate brothers and sisters finding themselves as they start growing and could not communicate. James Leeds (William Hurt) a teacher with unconventional approach way of teaching was warned by the school administration . John went his way and done his best that his students can communicate better in life with success. In his way came a young beauty by the name of Sarah, a very intelligent 25 year old mature woman who trusted no body. After graduation she decided to remain at the facility as a cleaner. Sarah ( Marlee Matlin - mute and deaf herself) abandoned by her mother for being deaf and mute because she could never learn to communicate with her, was in a way a loner, even sexually molested when she was a teenager. James fell in love with her and the two stuck together until....
A very great film. It can be easily watched a second or a third time, good photography, setting etc.
Marlee Matlin received an Oscar for her performance in Children of a Lesser God.
October 14, 2008

A film with a lesser effect...

I see a lot of potential when I think back over the film that was `Children of a Lesser God'. Now, I have not seen the play but I hear that it is much harsher, much more emotionally gut punching if you will. When I watched `Children of a Lesser God' I expected to get that, that warm feeling of unease in my core, the feeling that everything is not as it should be but instead I got a much softer and much more refined experience. I'm not saying that a sweet and effective love story is a bad thing, but aside from the major plot point regarding Sarah Norman's hearing disability the film is your generic love story with nothing really to distinguish it from every other love story out there.

Boy meets girl; boy likes girl; girl is standoffish; girl falls for guy; guy and girl have fight; boy and girl make up.

I wish I could say that there was more to it than that.

That isn't to say that as a love story it doesn't work well, for the wonderful performances by the two leads help elevate the film and carry it into our hearts; I just can't help myself from thinking that it could have been so much more. I really relish in films that sink into the grit and rawness of a situation, but aside from one beautifully acted scene of aggression and emotional frustration the film is rather cheery and light; and to me that takes away from the point of the film.

The film follows James Leeds, a teacher in a school for the deaf who pushes his students to learn to speak, as he falls in love with a pupil who decided to stay at the school and work as apposed to venturing out on her own. She is calloused towards him and his attempts to speak to her rather than sign, taking it as an insult to her disability, but she soon warms to him and they start a love affair that tests their relationship in ways they never knew possible. Leeds ideas conflict with Sarah's morals and scar her emotionally, but his persistence in the preservation of their relationship helps keep them together.

I definitely feel as though the acting here is the saving grace, for both William Hurt and Marlee Matlin work hard to elevate the clichéd material they are given. Much has been made over Marlee's Oscar win being sentimental and undeserved, but the fact of the matter is that her performance is very strong despite her material. William Hurt is maybe even stronger, for he doesn't have a gimmick to work with and yet still manages to crawl inside his character. I am kind of stunned that Piper Laurie received an Oscar nomination when her performance is not that noteworthy, but it isn't bad either so I can't be too upset over it. At least she didn't win.

In the end `Children of a Lesser God' is a fine film, but it is not what it could have been. It manages to make you care about the characters but it fails to make you care about the important lessons with regard to disability that the film claims to center around. The film is too concerned with the love affair to make the disability anything more than a side-point. August 28, 2008

Children of a Lesser God

This was a great film. It is well worth watching. It makes you think! July 9, 2008

Children of a Lesser God fan

I saw this movie back in 1988, and i loved it. I decided to become a sign language interpreter. The movie is excellent, I strongly recomend it to everybody. The performances were oscar winners and the story very emotional. I enjoyed the movie and I'm enjoying learning sign language. April 27, 2008

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