Seventeen-year-old Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones) lives with mum Jackie (Marlee Matlin), dad Frank (Troy Kotsur) and brother Leo (Daniel Durant). Ruby is the only hearing person among them and from a young age she has had the responsibility of acting as translator for her family. Whilst juggling school she helps them with their fishing business but finds her real love in music in choir class at school. With the help of her inspirational teacher (Eugenio Derbez) she prepares for an audition to go to Berklee music school but is torn when the family business hits trouble. 

CODA is an acronym for Child Of Deaf Adults but could also reference Ruby’s audition song being the final part of this stage in her life. Both definitions relate specifically to our protagonist Ruby who is the bright light at the centre of this heartwarming film. 

Written and directed by Sian Heder CODA is based on a 2014 French film called “La Famille Belier”. Its plot features everything you would expect in a coming of age story about a talented individual but its focus on how a deaf family integrate in a hearing community gives it a fresh spin and it is told in a beautiful heartfelt manner that would win anyone over. In fact it is incredibly funny, uplifting and emotional. 

Whilst Emilia Jones performance as Ruby is fantastic it is her family who deliver some of the best comedy moments in the film. With all three deaf characters played by deaf actors there is also a sense of diversity in the casting, something the original French film did not have. The moment when Ruby’s mum and dad deliver a safe sex conversation to Ruby and the boy she is learning a duet with is particularly hilarious. 

A wonderful film that will no doubt have you crying at its finale and playing Joni Mitchell albums.