Children of a Lesser God (1986)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Randa Haines

Writers:

Mark Medoff (play)
Mark Medoff (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Love has a language all of its own.

Plot:

James is a new speech teacher at a school for the deaf. He falls for Sarah, a pupil who decided to stay...

Plot Keywords:

School | Teacher | Sign Language | Deafness | Handicapped Actor

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	James Leeds
Marlee Matlin	...	Sarah Norman
Piper Laurie	...	Mrs. Norman
Philip Bosco	...	Dr. Curtis Franklin
Allison Gompf	...	Lydia
John F. Cleary	...	Johnny
Philip Holmes	...	Glen
Georgia Ann Cline	...	Cheryl
William D. Byrd	...	Danny
Frank Carter Jr.	...	Tony
John Limnidis	...	William
Bob Hiltermann	...	Orin
E. Katherine Kerr	...	Mary Lee Ochs
John Basinger	...	Alan Jones
Barry Magnani	...	Tom Schuyler

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:12 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Peru:14 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Beaver Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "Children of a Lesser God" by Mark Medoff opened at the Longacre Theater in New York on March 30, 1980, ran for 887 performances and won the 1980 Tony Award (New York City) for the Best Play. The author Mark Medoff also wrote the screenplay on which the movie version was based.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: The DVD back lists a main character as "John" Leeds, when the name should be "JAMES" Leeds.

Quotes:

James Leeds: I can't ever get close enough. Say my name, just once, say my name.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Critic: Siskel & Ebert & Jay & Alice (#2.2)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Bach's double Concerto D Minor for Violins

Powerful Commentary on Unconditionality, Love, Acceptance, Growth

This is perhaps the most moving and thought-provoking film about love and being in a relationship that I have ever seen. Matlin takes your breath away as you fall in love with her and she breaks your heart. Randa Haines documents, meticulously, the real effort and struggle that must go into negotiating a romantic relationship between any two individuals, and also the priceless dividends we reap by doing so- namely, love, home, friendship, acceptance, family: life.

"Children of a Lesser god" allows you to think, feel, and experience the things all good movies should. I highly recommend it...Matlin gives an awe-inspiring performance, 100% deserving of the Oscar she won for it. William Hurt balances the entire film, a feat which perhaps made him even more deserving of an Academy Award. All-in-all, if you want to watch a movie that tackles the timeless and immortal themes of love, communication, our relationship to the world, our relationship to our significant other, and most importantly our relationship to ourselves, I highly recommend this film. It will move you to tears.