What’s special about this particular film ‘Coda’ is that it has included the subtitles in the main film reel bringing history to be the first movie taking on this method for a theatrical release. It has been confirmed this will apply at least in the UK and US markets. Unfortunately Apple does not necessarily control theatrical distribution for the film in other territories but they are hoping others will follow suit. Normally, audience members from the deaf community, who watch films in cinemas, attend the screenings wearing special glasses so they can see the subtitle tracks over the top of the video, but this equipment often breaks down, so this will be a very welcomed film by the community.

The film's director Sian Heder, who is now under an exclusive production deal with Apple, made sure that deaf actors were cast in all of the deaf roles. About a third of the dialogue in the movie happens through actor’s speaking in American Sign Language.

In a recent interview Sian Heder said she is hopeful that ‘Coda’ will set a good example for future theatrical releases to be more accessible, within her interview she recalled an emotional reaction of a deaf man at a recent screening with the open captions in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where the film was shot. This gentleman hadn’t been to the cinema in ten years.

“He said, ‘I don’t go to the movies. I can’t wear those glasses. They make me nauseous. Half the time they don’t work so I’ve just stopped going to the theater.’ He hadn’t seen a movie in the theater in 10 years and he was very moved and excited.”

‘Coda’ is available on Apple TV + as of today Friday 13th August 2021, it will stream around the world with subtitle options in 36 languages.

Apple acquired Coda in a record-deal of $25 million at Sundance this year. 

CODA, short for Children of Deaf Adults, follows the story of Ruby (Emilia Jones) as the only hearing member of her family as she looks to break away from the family’s fishing business to pursue a passion for singing. The movie is an English remake of a French-language film ‘La Famille Bélier’.

To watch the films trailer please visit the following link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pmfrE1YL4I