Watch Sweet Nothing In My Ear
- TV-PG
- 2008
- 1 hr 33 min
-
6.6 (663)
Sweet Nothing In My Ear is a 2008 drama film that delves into the story of a deaf family and their struggles to communicate in a world that fails to accommodate their disabilities. The movie stars Jeff Daniels as Dan Miller, the father of the family, Marlee Matlin as Laura Miller, the mother and Ed Waterstreet as Adam. The movie is directed by Joseph Sargent.
At the start of the movie, we are introduced to a happy family that includes a deaf couple, Dan, and Laura Miller, and their son Adam, who can hear. Dan is a successful Internet consultant, and Laura is a stay-at-home mom who runs her own business. When the family learns that their son needs a cochlear implant to be able to hear, they are split between two worlds â one that accepts and embraces deafness and one that wants to 'fix' the disability.
The family's struggles and conflicts come to light as they struggle to make a decision on whether or not to give their son the implant. Dan is completely against the idea, believing that his son should be accepted the way he is. In contrast, Laura believes that it is essential that Adam gets the implants as it will be a significant boost to his quality of life. This leads to many heated arguments, and the couple decides to see a mediator to settle their dispute.
The mediator introduces them to the world of the deaf community and reveals to them the reasons behind their opposition to cochlear implants. This leads to a journey of self-discovery for the entire family as they confront their beliefs about deafness and begin to grasp the idea of accommodation, communication, and identity. Dan is convinced of the idea of American Sign Language and even begins to learn it while Laura faces the difficult decision of whether or not to get the implant for Adam.
The film takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster as the family tries to find a resolution while also juggling the issues that arise due to the differences in communication styles. The movie's pacing is excellent, and it manages to handle the subject matter of deafness in a way that portrays deaf people as whole and complete individuals who can communicate and have complex relationships as anyone else.
The film features powerful performances from Jeff Daniels and Marlee Matlin, who are both Academy Award winners. Jeff Daniels provides a nuanced portrayal of a father struggling to come to terms with his son's disability, and Matlin delivers a visceral depiction of a mother dealing with her child's needs while grappling with her own reservations. Ed Waterstreet is also commendable in his role as the mediator, bringing life to the movie with his character's personality.
The film's primary focus is on the family's journey, but it also presents some important questions about society and the way people perceive disabilities. The portrayal of the deaf community as a tight-knit community that values their language and culture is particularly noteworthy. The movie highlights the importance of communication and accommodation, and how they can bridge differences.
Overall, Sweet Nothing In My Ear is a powerful drama that examines the complexities of communication, identity, and disabilities through a family's struggles. The movie does an excellent job of conveying the emotional turmoil of each character, and the performances are top-notch. It is a movie that will leave its viewers emotional and thoughtful as they contemplate the themes it presents.
Sweet Nothing In My Ear is a 2008 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.