CODA, by American director Siân Heder (also an actress and screenwriter), was crowned best film by the Producers Guild of America (PGA) on Saturday March 19. However, the prizes awarded by this association of some 8,000 professionals who make the weather rain and shine in Hollywood are considered a relatively reliable barometer for the Oscars which will be awarded this year on March 27.
French film remake The Aries Family by Eric Lartigau (2014), CODA tells the story of a struggling deaf family. Deaf actors play the main roles. Its title is the acronym of “Child of deaf adult” which literally means “hearing child of deaf parents”. The viewer follows Ruby, a hearing high school student, who juggles her musical ambitions and her family’s dependence on her to communicate with the “hearing” world.
“I have always been attracted by stories full of humanity”said French producer Philippe Rousselet, co-producer of CODAreceiving the prize, “a sign that there is still hope” in the world. “In music, a coda signifies the end of a movement”observed the deaf actress Marlee Matlin who plays Ruby’s mother in CODAadding: “It’s wonderful to see the public so welcoming our film and it’s wonderful to make history”.
Released on Apple TV+, CODA who won the top prize at the SAG Awards at the end of February is now well placed to compete with the big favorite The Power of the Dog by Jane Campion, produced by Netflix.
Other PGA winners include Encanto won Best Animated Film Producer, bolstering his own Oscar chances before voting closes on Tuesday (March 22). summer of soul, musician Questlove’s first film about the “Black Woodstock” festival that took place in Harlem in 1969, won a new award for best documentary. On the television side, Succession from HBO took home the award for best drama television series.
During the evening, Steven Spielberg paid tribute to “(his brother” George Lucas presenting to the creator of Star Wars a career prize from the PGA. Lucas shares this Milestone Award with Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm now owned by Disney.