She is the most mysterious, independent, beautiful, angry person he has ever met. He is the first man who has ever gotten close enough to love her.
Starting his new job as an instructor at a New England school for the deaf, James Leeds meets Sarah Norman, a young deaf woman who works at the school as a member of the custodial staff. In spite of Sarah's withdrawn emotional state, a romance slowly develops between the pair.
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Character
Earnest, grave, classical in form and intimate.
- earnestironic
- gravecomic
- classical in formformally daring
- intimateepic
- character-ledplot-driven
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“Is Sarah Norman the real protagonist?”
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“Does the smallness hold it back?”
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“Would a little humor have helped?”
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- CinemaSerfon TMDB · Apr 20246/10
Acclaimed teacher "James" (William Hurt) arrives at a school for the deaf where his very "hands on" techniques rather shake the established order of superintendent "Franklin" (Philip Bosco). His pupils make good progress, though, as his methods start to encourage them to speak more and act with much more confidence amidst each other and amongst the talking community at large. Soon they playing a bit of second fiddle to the enigmatic "Sarah" (Marlee Matlin). She's now the school caretaker and has a reputation as a bit stand-offish and temperamental, but it turns out that she, too, is deaf and that she has also been in this establishment for over twenty years. Most people around the place just put up with her, but he determines to try to get to the bottom of her obvious frustrations and see if he can't help her deal with them. Initially a job of work for the man, this soon becomes something more visceral and intimate for both - and that tests the mettle of just about everyone. It's probably a testament to Matlee's strong and characterful performance here that I just didn't take to "Sarah" at all. I found the character - whatever her background, an angry and somewhat obnoxious creatur
Read the whole review on TMDB - Wuchakon TMDB · Feb 20197/10
***A school for the deaf on a Maine island with William Hurt and Marlee Matlin*** A teacher (William Hurt) moves to coastal Maine to work at a school for the deaf on an island where he becomes interested in a striking, but disturbed janitor (Marlee Matlin), who was once a student there. "Children of a Lesser God" (1986) is part celestial and mundane; beautiful and profane. Thankfully there’s more beauty. The Northeast coastal locations are wonderful and Hurt makes for a worthy protagonist while expertly pulling off a difficult role. Marlee Matlin is an exquisite revelation without which the movie would’ve failed. Everything builds to a stunning dramatic scene in the second half, which is expertly executed. Unfortunately, the couple hooks-up a little prematurely. More time should’ve been spent with the journey to consummation. Nonetheless, there are great moments here. The film runs 1 hour, 59 minutes and was shot in New Brunswick, Canada (Rothesay, Saint John & Beaver Harbour). GRADE: B
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Cast
- William HurtJames Leeds
- Marlee MatlinSarah Norman
- Piper LaurieMrs. Norman
- Philip BoscoDr. Curtis Franklin
- Allison GompfLydia
- John F. ClearyJohnny
- Philip HolmesGlen
- Georgia Ann ClineCheryl
- William D. ByrdDanny
- Frank Carter Jr.Tony
Crew
- Randa HainesDirector
- Mark MedoffScreenplay
- Hesper AndersonScreenplay
- John SealeDirector of Photography
- Michael ConvertinoOriginal Music Composer
- Lisa FruchtmanEditor
- Burt SugarmanProducer
- Patrick J. PalmerProducer
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
Hoop Dreams 199481% alikeBoth earnest, classical in form, grave.
Girl, Interrupted 199979% alikeBoth earnest, grave, classical in form.
Kramer vs. Kramer 197979% alikeBoth earnest, classical in form, grave.
Mud 201379% alikeBoth earnest, classical in form, grave.
Both earnest, grave, classical in form.
The Wolfpack 201577% alikeBoth earnest, grave, classical in form.
Ordinary People 198077% alikeBoth earnest, grave, classical in form.
Shine 199677% alikeBoth earnest, grave, classical in form.
Game · Both earnest, classical in form, grave.
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart 202376% alikeTelevision · Both earnest, grave, classical in form.
Often watched with
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