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Marlee Matlin. Cover Image E-video E-video

Marlee Matlin.

Stern, Shoshannah, (film director.). Sorkin, Aaron, (actor.). Winkler, Henry, (actor.). Maucere, John, (actor.). Ridloff, Lauren, (actor.). Matlin, Marlee, (actor.). Haines, Randa, (actor.). Kino Lorber (Firm), (Distributor). Kanopy (Firm), (Distributor).

Summary:

In 1987, at the age of just 21, Marlee Matlin shattered expectations as the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award® for her groundbreaking performance in Children of a Lesser God. Catapulted into the spotlight, she seized the moment to challenge an industry unprepared for her immense talent, emerging as a trailblazer, not only as a performer, but also as an author and activist. Matlin's incredible journey continued with standout roles in acclaimed projects such as The West Wing and the Oscar®-winning CODA, all while relentlessly advocating for greater inclusion and accessibility both within Hollywood and beyond its borders. Matlin opens up about her personal and professional struggles – her meteoric rise to fame, the challenges of navigating a predominantly hearing industry, the pain of a tumultuous high-profile relationship, getting sober and years of being overlooked by Hollywood – alongside her many triumphs. Director Shoshannah Stern reimagines traditional documentary storytelling, elevating ASL as the film’s heart and soul while removing conventional voiceovers and including open captions, creating an authentic and visually immersive experience. Through split-screen interviews with both Deaf and hearing contributors, the film weaves a poignant and inspiring narrative of Matlin’s legendary career, highlighting her tireless fight for inclusion and representation in an entertainment world that at first had no place for her.

Record details

  • Physical Description: 1 online resource (streaming video file) (97 minutes): digital, .flv file, sound
  • Publisher: [San Francisco, California, USA] : Kino Lorber, 2025.

Content descriptions

General Note:
Title from title frames.
Film
In Process Record.
Participant or Performer Note:
Aaron Sorkin, Henry Winkler, John Maucere, Lauren Ridloff, Marlee Matlin, Randa Haines
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Originally produced by Kino Lorber in 2025.
System Details Note:
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Subject: Arts.
Social sciences.
Motion pictures.
Sociology.
Gender identity.
Documentary films.
Women's studies.
Artists.
Health.
Women artists.
Disabilities.
Women social reformers.
Actors.
People with disabilities.
Genre: Documentary films.

Electronic resources


Summary: In 1987, at the age of just 21, Marlee Matlin shattered expectations as the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award® for her groundbreaking performance in Children of a Lesser God. Catapulted into the spotlight, she seized the moment to challenge an industry unprepared for her immense talent, emerging as a trailblazer, not only as a performer, but also as an author and activist. Matlin's incredible journey continued with standout roles in acclaimed projects such as The West Wing and the Oscar®-winning CODA, all while relentlessly advocating for greater inclusion and accessibility both within Hollywood and beyond its borders. Matlin opens up about her personal and professional struggles – her meteoric rise to fame, the challenges of navigating a predominantly hearing industry, the pain of a tumultuous high-profile relationship, getting sober and years of being overlooked by Hollywood – alongside her many triumphs. Director Shoshannah Stern reimagines traditional documentary storytelling, elevating ASL as the film’s heart and soul while removing conventional voiceovers and including open captions, creating an authentic and visually immersive experience. Through split-screen interviews with both Deaf and hearing contributors, the film weaves a poignant and inspiring narrative of Matlin’s legendary career, highlighting her tireless fight for inclusion and representation in an entertainment world that at first had no place for her.

Additional Resources