The independent film “CODA”, remake of the French film The Aries Family by Eric Lartigau (2014), a big success with 3 million admissions in France, won the first prize at the SAG Awards on Sunday. These awards from the American Actors Union usually weigh heavily in the race for the Oscars.
In the remake of this film which tells the story of a deaf family in difficulty and is currently visible on Apple TV+, the viewer follows Ruby, a high school student, who juggles her musical ambitions and her family’s dependence on her to communicate with the world of “hearing”. The title is an acronym for “Child of dead adult“, which literally means “hearing child of deaf parents“.
“We deaf actors have come a long way“, said, in sign language, Marlee Matlin, visibly amazed as she received, alongside the other actors of the film, the statuette of the flagship category “best cast“. The Oscar winner plays Ruby’s mother.”It confirms the fact that we deaf actors can work like anyone else“, she added, before teaching the public the sign for “I love you“.
The SAG Awards are given by actors and as such are considered a very good indicator for the Oscars because actors constitute the most numerous college (about 10,000) within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences which awards these rewards.
Kotsur, who plays Ruby’s father, thanked the directors for “believed in us, deaf actors, and for having chosen us in an authentic way“. ‘CODA’ was released by Apple TV+ after a one-upmanship at the Sundance Independent Film Festival last year, where it won the top prize. The film also scooped the Best Supporting Actor award for Troy Kotsur.
At the SAG Awards, Will Smith won Best Actor for King Richard, which chronicles the incredible rise of Serena and Venus Williams, from the difficult streets of Compton to the most prestigious tennis courts in the discipline. Will Smith embodies the role of their father Richard, whose “power of conviction that borders on madness and sometimes exceeds the limit – something absolutely necessary to take something from the impossible to the possible“.
The Best Actress award went to Jessica Chastain for her role in In the eyes of Tammy Faye, where she plays the eccentric eponymous American televangelist. “It was a dream for me to play Tammy Faye“, claimed the actress. “She was a true pioneer and she wrapped her arms around those who were repeatedly rejected“, referring to the LGBTQ community.
The two feature films given as favorites at the Oscars, The power of the dog and Belfast, left empty-handed from the SAG gala, reshuffling the cards for the race to the Oscars ceremony which will take place on March 27. On the television side, the actors of Squid Game, Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon, won Best Actor and Best Actress. The two South Koreans thanked Hollywood for having them”opened the door“.