Review by Jamie M MacDonald

“One, most deaf school adopted an Oralism Policy`, which was believed to help deaf people integrate into society.

It was not until 2010 that the International Congress on Education of Deaf changed its policy and urged: “In education, we need to value all communication methods adopted by Deaf people… and recognise their right to use sign language”

Wolf (Neo Yau) and Alan (Marco Ng) met at oral communication school, where Alan decided he would concentrate on both learning to talk, and sigh language. Wolf`s family are all Deaf and he will not stop using Sign Language no matter what his teachers say, he embraces his Deafness and does not see it as a weakness, despite the up and downs he faces in life. Alan, has always adopted both spoken and Sign Language, and is an ambassador for CI. Cochlear Implant Alan, has had since he was young, which gives him 70% hearing. Sophie, from a young age her mother and her decided her best option was a CI implant plus spoken word. Sophie always speaks with a deaf accent which she can`t shake, through ambassador duties she meets both Alan and Wolf. Her mother like the government has always banned her from using sign language, but after meeting her new found deaf friends, she starts to question her whole life and purpose in the deaf community…

The three main characters of the story are exceptional, I can`t fault any of them, but it is really Sophie`s journey that is the heart and soul of the film. Sophie is played by Chung Suet Ying, and I can see her picking up some awards for her acting in this film. She is the driving force from the start to the end, and I hope that she gets the attention she deserves for her work here. As I said the film has three main leads and each story arc is pivotal to how the film unfolds and their journey is captivating to watch as they negotiate everyday life in a bigoted world against deafness, the kind of world that looks down on them. Both heart-warming and heart breaking at the same time, I think that The Way We talk is the drama film of the year for me. Normally I`ll put in a few scenes that were my favourite in a review, I really don`t feel that I have to with this film; every scene is compelling and equally important.

Written and Directed with grace and care by Adam Wong the film flows well as it moves through the structure of three acts. You can clearly see the way he constructed each act to give the best drama and possibly the truest depiction of the deaf world on film. How it deals with everyday life and the pressures the hearing world put on it. We see the change in Sophie`s character as she becomes truer to herself and her needs, but also respecting the deaf world and those who sign, she finds her voice. When she stops trying to fit into the hearing world with her CI and her deaf accent, you will feel uplifted as you should be having witnessed her journey in The Way We Talk.

** BOOK NOW 購票連結:lnk.to/TheWayWeTalk **

The Way We Talk
4/5

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