Deaf

synopsis

Spanish director Eva Libertad captures the fears, disillusionment and communication barriers in the life of Ángela, a deaf woman preparing for motherhood in a hearing world. In addition to the personal experiences of her sister Miriam Garlo, who plays the lead role, the filmmaker was also inspired by the stories of other deaf mothers. This intimate drama was shot in real settings with non-actors and natural lighting. The carefully composed sound design and shots attentive to the gestures and facial expressions of the sign language characters respect the perspective of the deaf. The authentic, unsentimental narrative allows us to better understand the everyday reality of people whom mainstream society mostly neither sees nor hears.

“I wanted to explore how relationships function across communication barriers. It’s not just about language. It’s about trust, identity and compromise. For Ángela, becoming a mother raises the terrifying question: what if my child isn’t like me?” — Eva Libertad (Source: Irish Times)

biography

Eva Libertad (born 1978) is a Spanish director, screenwriter and sociologist. Throughout her work, she explores topics such as gender-based violence, immigrants' rights and the complex relationship between the worlds of the hearing and the deaf. Her film Deaf, screened at Berlinale, is based on the 2021 short film of the same name, which has been shown at dozens of international festivals.

film details

director:	Eva Libertad
producer:	Ariadna Ulldemolins Abad