CODA Trivia Quiz

Answer: It is an acronym describing a child of deaf adults

The film "CODA" focuses mainly on the Rossi family, with four people: the parents and two children, one of whom is the CODA (child of deaf adults), the only hearing family member; the parents and the other child are deaf.

The word coda or CODA is an acronym, which refers to children of deaf adults. It specifically refers to a person who has deaf parents or guardians. The word "child" does not necessarily mean "young" but it does indicate a family relationship.

CODA is pronounced as a word and not as individual letters and is used as a noun, referring to a person.

Answer: True

In 2014, the comedy-drama movie "La Famille Bélier" or "The Bélier Family" directed by Éric Lartigau and produced by Philippe Rousselet and others, was a huge success. Philippe Rousselet, one of the original producers had the right to do a remake of the film. So, he and the producer Patrick Wachsberger turned to Sian Heder to direct what would be not only an English-language adaptation of the film but an original film.

Sian Heder (1977) is an award-winning director and screenwriter known for her TV and film productions. She learned American Sign Language, ASL, before writing CODA's script and was assisted by two deaf collaborators who she called "ASL masters". In addition, she spent a lot of time with the fishing community to learn about fishing practices.

The film CODA was released on January 28, 2021, at the Sundance Film Festival.

Answer: American Sign Language (ASL) and English

The film's languages are English and American Sign Language. About 40% of the script is in ASL. It is important to note that when the character communicates through ASL the text is subtitled, not translated or dubbed (as it often is in other movies). No voice is given to what is said in ASL, highlighting gestures and signals.

American Sign Language is a complete and natural language, which predominantly serves the deaf communities in the United States. It is a visual language that is expressed by movements and motions with the hands and by facial expressions. There is no universal sign language. Different countries or regions use different sign languages.

Answer: Ruby

The film "CODA" focuses mainly on the Rossi family of four. Frank and Jackie are Leo and Ruby's parents. Ruby (Emilia Jones), as the CODA (child of deaf adults), is the only hearing family member; her parents and brother are deaf.

"CODA" centers on the character Ruby, a high-school student, sixteen years old, played by Emília Annis I. Jones (2002), an English actress, singer, and songwriter. Daughter of artist parents, she started her artistic career at the age of eight and already has an extensive curriculum with TV and film performances. To act in the film "CODA", Emilia spent about nine months studying sign language and learning how to operate a professional fishing trawler.

Answer: They operate a fishing boat.

Unlike the Bélier family, who manage a rural dairy farm in France, the Rossi family is dedicated to marine fishing. This activity imposes a great responsibility on Ruby because in this activity someone from the boat has to be able to hear audible warnings, etc.

It is also up to Ruby to convey her parents' points of view and their demands to the fishing community since others don't know sign language. Ruby has to balance her personal aspirations with the needs of her family.

Answer: Children of a Lesser God

Marlee Beth Matlin (1965) an American actress, writer, and activist, received the Oscar for Best Actress, in her debut film "Children of a Lesser God". In this film, she plays a young deaf janitor at a school for the deaf or hard of hearing.

With this award, she became the youngest actress to receive the Oscar for Best Actress and the first deaf winner in Oscar history.

Answer: That the remaining deaf characters should be deaf

Although the producers resisted casting deaf actors, Marlee Matlin demanded that the remaining deaf characters be deaf. Should her request not be granted, she would leave the cast. So all the deaf characters are played by deaf actors: Frank (Troy Kotsur), Jackie (Marlee Matlin), and Leo (Daniel Durant), Ruby's father, mother, and brother respectively.

In the movie "La Famille Bélier", all actors and actresses are hearing except for the protagonist's younger brother (Luca Gelberg), who is deaf. The actors devoted many months to learn French Sign Language.

Answer: True

Ruby had numerous problems attending school. She had to divide her time between work with her family and school. She would go to the sea with her family at dawn and often when she returned she would go straight to school without even time for a shower. Because she was always with her family, she often didn't speak correctly, and as she said herself, she "talked funny as a child".

There are numerous episodes of bullying in the film. Bullying is a common problem faced by CODA.

Answer: Music

Professor Bernardo "Mr. V." Villalobos, responsible for teaching music and running the choir, noticed Ruby's musical qualities, accepted her limitations (schedule problems, disappearances, crises), and encouraged and helped her to pursue her studies in music and find her way. I found the role of the teacher very interesting, who, being an outsider to the family, helped Ruby with her dilemma: family versus career.

Mr. V is played by Eugênio Gonzales Derbez (1961), a Mexican actor and filmmaker, who since the early 1980s has been acting and creating plays for TV and cinema. In 2013, Derbez produced the film "Instructions not Included" which was a worldwide success in Spanish and broke numerous box office records.

Answer: "Both Sides, Now" by Joni Mitchell

The song chosen by Ruby for her Berklee audition was "Both Sides, Now" by Joni Mitchell. The composer herself thought the choice was excellent because when she composed the song in 1966 it was a moment of childish optimism and adult reality, analogous to Ruby's situation The film's director Sian Heder thought the song was perfect because Ruby saw the world from both the hearing and the deaf's point of view. So the song "Both Sides, Now" captured the moment when Ruby left her childhood sheltered by her family and had to find out who she was by herself.

The song "Both Sides, Now" was written by Joni Mitchell in 1966, it was a commercial success at the time and appeared on the album "Clouds" in 1969. The song was re-recorded in the year 2000 when it appeared in the album "Both Sides Now".