Children of a Lesser God – William Hurt DVD Review

This review is about the classic movie Children of a Lesser God. It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves drama, romance and powerful performances. Starring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin, this Oscar-winning film is an inspiring and captivating story about two people coming together in spite of their differences. The movie follows James Leeds (Hurt), an unconventional teacher who works at a school for deaf students, and Sarah Norman (Matlin), one of his students who has withdrawn into her own world due to her heartbreaking past. Through their struggles and triumphs, James and Sarah learn to understand each other on a deeper level.

The acting performances by both Hurt and Matlin are outstanding. Hurt brings great depth to the character of James, a man determined to break through Sarah’s barriers in order to help her find happiness. Matlin gives an equally strong performance as Sarah, conveying her emotions powerfully through her eyes alone. Her Oscar-winning performance is a testament to how powerful sign language can be when used in storytelling.

The cinematography is also noteworthy, with beautiful shots of the American countryside highlighting the beauty of freedom that Sarah craves so much. The soundtrack complements the film perfectly, adding even more emotion to the scenes.

Overall, Children of a Lesser God is a must-see movie that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted with its positive message. With its great acting performances, stunning visuals and meaningful theme, this movie is definitely worth watching. In terms of content and production quality, Children of a Lesser God is definitely one of the best movies ever made about disability.

Children of a Lesser God Review

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Children of a Lesser God is an iconic movie from 1986 featuring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin. It tells the story of a deaf woman, Sarah Norman, and her budding relationship with her speech therapist James Leeds. The film won several awards, including an Academy Award for Marlee Matlin’s performance. This special edition DVD includes:

  1. Director’s Cut – this director’s cut version was released in 2000, 10 years after its original release.
  2. Closed-Captioned – closed captioning is available in English.
  3. Interactive Menus – provides easy access to the featurettes, interviews, and extras.
  4. Commentary Track – commentary by director Randa Haines and producer Patrick Palmer.
  5. Deleted Scenes – deleted scenes from the original theatrical release.
  6. Featurettes – two featurettes about the making of Children of a Lesser God.

This DVD also features interviews with cast members William Hurt and Marlee Matlin, as well as production designer Kristi Zea. Whether you’re looking for a classic romance or just want to watch an Oscar-winning performance, there’s something for everyone in Children of a Lesser God. With its powerful story and amazing performances, this movie is sure to leave you inspired.

Product Details

Product Children of a Lesser God
Genre Drama
Release Date September 12, 1986
Director Randa Haines
Actors William Hurt, Marlee Matlin, Piper Laurie, Philip Bosco
Runtime 107 minutes

Children of a Lesser God Pros and Cons

Pros:
1. The star-studded cast. Featuring Academy Award winners William Hurt and Marlee Matlin, Children of a Lesser God is an acting tour de force.
2. Intelligent story that explores the nature of communication and barriers to connection.
3. Artfully directed by Randa Haines, who creates an atmosphere of empathy and understanding between characters.

Cons:
1. The film’s pacing may be too slow for some viewers.
2. Some of the dialogue is overly melodramatic at times.
3. It may not appeal to mainstream audiences looking for a more light-hearted experience.

Children of a Lesser God is a powerful drama about the struggles and triumphs of communication, featuring an incredible cast and strong direction. Whether you are a fan of William Hurt or Marlee Matlin, this film will captivate you with its thoughtful exploration of human connection. Despite its few shortcomings such as pacing issues and occasionally melodramatic dialogue, it’s still worth watching for its compelling performances and thought-provoking themes.

Who are They for

Set in a school for the deaf, this multi-Academy Award-winning film tells the story of Sarah Norman (Marlee Matlin), a young woman who has been denied the chance to communicate with others due to her severe hearing loss. The movie follows Sarah as she meets and falls in love with her speech teacher, James Leeds (William Hurt). Together, they must come to terms with their different backgrounds and find understanding in each other.

Children of a Lesser God is an emotional drama that examines issues of communication, identity, and disability. Marlee Matlin’s performance as Sarah is powerful and captivating, earning her an Oscar for Best Actress. William Hurt also received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of James Leeds. The screenplay was written by Hesper Anderson and Mark Medoff, based on Medoff’s Tony Award-winning play.

Children of a Lesser God explores themes of acceptance, understanding, and self-discovery through its two protagonists. It is a thought-provoking look at how we interact with those who are unlike us and how our differences can be our greatest strengths. This timeless classic is a must-watch for anyone interested in exploring complex topics such as disability and communication.

My Experience for Children of a Lesser God

Ray Cooley

I’m a movie buff, and I’m always looking for the best films to watch. Recently, I stumbled upon a classic movie, Children of a Lesser God. Starring William Hurt and Marlee Matlin, this film is based on Mark Medoff’s play about an unconventional romance between two people with very different backgrounds.

The story follows James Leeds (Hurt), an ambitious teacher at a school for the deaf. He meets Sarah Norman (Matlin), a student who refuses to learn sign language or speak in any language. As their relationship progresses, James helps Sarah find her voice and discover her identity. It’s an inspiring story about love and acceptance that I was lucky enough to experience firsthand.

Children of a Lesser God is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece. Its powerful performances are brilliantly complemented by its beautiful cinematography and thoughtful direction. The story has stayed with me long after the credits rolled, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking to explore the depths of human emotion.

 

What I don’t Like

1. No Subtitles: Children of a Lesser God does not have subtitles for any of its dialogue, making it difficult to follow for those who do not understand sign language.

2. Lack of Special Features: The DVD version of this film does not have any special features or bonus content, such as deleted scenes or commentaries.

3. Insufficient Audio Quality: The audio quality on this DVD is poor and often muffled, making it difficult to hear the dialogue and music in the film.

4. Outdated Visual Effects: The visual effects used in this film are outdated and do not hold up against more modern films.

How to Improve Your Sign Language Skills with Children of a Lesser God

Children of a Lesser God is an American drama film that tells the story of a deaf woman and her teacher. The movie has become an iconic representation of sign language culture, and it can be used as a great tool for those who want to learn or improve their sign language skills.

Sign language is a complicated skill that requires both time and commitment in order to master. But with the help of Children of a Lesser God, you can make sure that your learning process is efficient and enjoyable. Here are some tips on how to use the movie to your advantage:

  • Watch the movie multiple times. Watching Children of a Lesser God once won’t do much good if you want to learn sign language. Make sure to watch the movie several times in order to get familiar with all the signs and how they are used by native signers.
  • Pay attention to facial expressions. Sign language is more than just hand gestures; it also includes facial expressions and eye contact which convey different messages. Take note of how characters in the movie use those non-verbal cues when communicating in sign language.
  • Pause frequently. If you want to practice signing, it’s important to pause the movie every now and then so that you can practice what you have seen. This will help solidify what you have learned by watching the film.
  • Repeat dialogues out loud. To really understand how sign language works, it’s important to practice repeating dialogues out loud while watching the film. Doing this will help you remember key phrases and signs used in each scene.

By following these tips, you will be able to benefit greatly from Children of a Lesser God in terms of improving your sign language skills. So take some time this week and watch this classic movie – it could be just what you need!

Questions about Children of a Lesser God

 

What is Children of a Lesser God?

Children of a Lesser God is an Academy Award-winning drama film released in 1986. Directed by Randa Haines, the movie stars William Hurt and Marlee Matlin and tells the story of a teacher and his student who are both deaf.

Are there subtitles available?

Yes, subtitle options are available on the DVD/Blu-ray release of Children of a Lesser God. The subtitles provided include English, French, Spanish, German, Italian and Dutch.

How long is the movie?

Children of a Lesser God has a running time of approximately 107 minutes.

Does this movie contain content suitable for children?

Given its mature themes, Children of a Lesser God is not recommended for viewers under the age of 13.

Ray Cooley

I'm a movie enthusiast with a passion for discovering the latest and greatest films. I love to watch movies with friends, discuss them online, and share my thoughts about them in reviews. The only thing I enjoy more than watching a great film is telling others why it's so special!

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