'CODA' Wins Best Picture At The Oscars In Historic Win For The Deaf Community
By Kristin Myers on March 28, 2022 at 12:00 PM EDT
On Sunday night, “CODA” won Best Picture at the 2022 Oscars.
The Sundance Film Festival triumph was nominated for Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Picture. It won all three. Troy Kotsur’s win makes him the second Deaf person in the Academy’s 94-year history to win an Academy Award and the first Deaf male actor to do so. The first went to “CODA” costar Marlee Matlinfor 1987’s “Children of a Lesser God.”
Although the night was underscored by the drama concerning Will Smith, no one can deny what a huge win this is for the Deaf community, which has been unrepresented in the cinematic industry for too long.
Watch ‘CODA’ Accept The Oscar Award For Best Picture
Singer Lady Gaga – who faced her own snub for Leading Lady earlier in the night – read out the name “CODA” to a cheering audience who waved their hand in the widely-recognized ASL sign for applause. Producers Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, and Patrick Wachsberger accepted the award for Best Picture, while several interpreters were on hand to relay the message back to the cast and crew.
“Thank you to the Academy for letting our CODA make history tonight,” one of the producers began. “And congratulations to all of our fellow nominees. Your movies were all so incredible. We’re so honored to be here.”
“[Director] Sian [Heder], it hasn’t been an easy ride from the first day shooting,” he continued. “When our cast and crew were supposed to be 4 A.M., at sea, fishing, when we were told a giant storm was about to hit us. It was only the beginning of our problems but you’ve kept the boat afloat and you have been the best captain a producer can ever dream of. Really.”
“To our incredible cast, you guys have made such a wonderful and loving family on-screen but also off-screen and everybody wants to be a part of it, and contrary to you, Ruby, no one seems to want to leave it,” he continued, referring to how Emilia Jones, who plays the family’s on-screen hearing daughter, Ruby, wants to leave behind her role as her family’s interpreter to go to college and pursue a career in singing.
“So you guys… and I want to thank Eric, our partner in Paris, and our team at Vondome, I want to thank my better half, Leah, and my kids, who are all here, I love you. I want to thank Terry for mentoring me in my early days and I want to thank my dad. I hope you’re watching from up there. I love you very much and this one’s for you too.”
‘CODA’ Producers Could Not Have Asked For A Better Cast & Crew
“Well, I really want to thank the Academy for recognizing a movie of love and family on this difficult time that we need today, and this is CODA,” he said. “Sian … where are you? … you’ve been absolutely amazing from the first day. I’m so blessed to have met you. And to our cast, Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin, new Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant, Emilia – your voice charmed us, and Daniel, you made us laugh so much and you took really great care of the Ruby family.”
“I want to thank also the incredible crew that we had, including the fisherman community in Gloucester,” he continued. “The incredible team at Apple TV. They’ve been absolutely amazing from day one and really were able to basically put this movie everywhere in the world, really, thank you, all of you, all of you, and the most amazing team.”
“And to my father, who is up there, and my mother who is up there, but my beautiful daughter, Olivia, she’s here, the other one, Justin, is not here, and my wonderful wife, who has been supporting me… I don’t know how they made it for so long. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Fans Say That ‘CODA’ Definitely Deserved The Win!
Many fans – not just those in the Deaf community – unanimously agreed that “CODA” was most deserving of their big Oscar win.
“Congratulations to CODA!” one fan wrote. “It has been a long time since a film moved me as this one did. Well deserved. Amazing work from the entire cast and crew.”
“CODA was the best movie of the year,” another commented. “It was a beautiful film. It deserved all the recognition.”
“Congratulation to CODA!” said another. This is indeed the type of movie we needed today and a well-deserved win. Congratulations!”
“This is a great win for all!” another commented. “I love to see the diversity and inclusion among this team!”
“This made me so happy,” another shared. “The Deaf Community is very precious to me and holds a special place in my heart. I'm so happy for them and proud of what they accomplished and what this means going forward.”
