Children of a Lesser God
First screened in Spring 1987 / Most recently screened in August 2016
Director: Randa Haines. Cast: William Hurt, Marlee Matlin, Philip Bosco, Piper Laurie, John F. Cleary, Allison Gompf, William D. Byrd, Georgia Ann Cline. Screenplay: Hesper Anderson and Mark Medoff (based on the play by Mark Medoff).

 Twitter Capsule: Seduction super skeevy. Sign language badly blocked. Tale of fraught relationship gradually feels truer.

VOR: ③  An important landmark in popular depictions of deafness, even if the movie frequently stumbles in both its visual strategies and disability politics. Gutsy in some of its ugliness.


Photo © 1986 Paramount Pictures

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: B–

(in Spring 1987: A; in December 1999: C–)
Academy Award Nominations and Winners:
Best Picture
★Best Actress: Marlee Matlin
Best Actor: William Hurt
Best Supporting Actress: Piper Laurie
Best Adapted Screenplay: Hesper Anderson & Mark Medoff

Golden Globe Nominations and Winners:
Best Picture (Drama)
★Best Actress (Drama): Marlee Matlin
Best Actor (Drama): William Hurt

Other Awards:
Berlin Film Festival: Silver Bear (Jury Prize)
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