CODA follows “Ruby [is] the only hearing member of a deaf family from Gloucester, Massachusetts. At 17, she works mornings before school to help her parents and brother keep their fishing business afloat. But in joining her high school’s choir club, Ruby finds herself drawn to both her duet partner and her latent passion for singing.”
The film written and directed by Siân Heder (Tallulah), stars Emilia Jones (Ruby), Daniel Durant as Ruby’s older brother, Leo, and Troy Kotsur, and Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin as Ruby’s parents Frank and Jackie. Eugenio Derbez also stars as Ruby’s music teacher Bernardo, who is the driving force behind Ruby discovering her talent and pursuing her passion for singing. Though CODA is based on a French film, La Famille Bélier, it was important to Heder for the film to adapt it in her own style so the film could be as realistic as possible. Deaf actors were cast in Deaf roles, scenes were filmed near Heder’s real hometown in Massachusetts that was also a fishing town much like the one in the film, and actors were actually fishing during their scenes on the boat. And although the Rossi family’s triumphs and struggles are their own, what follows is a heartwarming family-friendly and coming-of-age film that shows the growing pains of living in a family that may not understand your dreams, but will do what they can to help you achieve them. Above are our interviews with the cast!
The film begins streaming on Apple TV+ starting on August 13th.