In 1987, at the age of just 21, Marlee Matlin shattered expectations as the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award® for her groundbreaking performance in CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD. Catapulted into the spotlight, she seized the moment to challenge an industry unprepared for her immense talent, emerging as a trailblazer not only as a performer but also as an author and activist. Matlin’s incredible journey continued with standout roles in acclaimed projects such as THE WEST WING and the Oscar®-winning CODA, all while relentlessly advocating for greater inclusion and accessibility both within Hollywood and beyond its borders.
Directed by Shoshannah Stern, the film offers an unflinching look at Matlin’s remarkable life through the lens of her primary language, American Sign Language. Matlin opens up about her personal and professional struggles—her meteoric rise to fame, the challenges of navigating a predominantly hearing industry, the pain of a tumultuous high-profile relationship, getting sober, and years of being overlooked by Hollywood —alongside her many triumphs.
Stern’s directorial debut reimagines traditional documentary storytelling, elevating ASL as the film’s heart and soul while removing conventional voice-overs, creating an authentic and visually immersive experience. Through split-screen interviews with both Deaf and hearing contributors, the film weaves a poignant and inspiring narrative of Matlin’s legendary career, highlighting her tireless fight for inclusion and representation in an entertainment world that at first had no place for her.
