By John Corrado
The 2025 Hot Docs Film Festival runs from April 24th to May 4th in Toronto
In her documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, director Shoshannah Stern crafts an engaging, intimate portrait of actress Marlee Matlin, who become the first Deaf actor to win an Oscar for her lead performance in the 1986 film Children of a Lesser God.
Renewed interest in Matlin came with her role in surprise Best Picture winner CODA, with Troy Kotsur becoming only the second Deaf actor to win an Oscar for his supporting performance in the film (hence the documentary’s title). Stern’s film takes us through Matlin’s career, from this early breakout role to her supporting performances in Seinfeld and The West Wing, as she fought for more inclusion in the film and TV industry.
Throughout it all, the film does a very good job of exploring Deaf culture and the importance of representation in media. This includes grappling with the now admittedly more complicated legacy of filmmaker Randa Haines’ Children of a Lesser God, with other Deaf actors talking about the impact of the film, and how it is unfortunately still one of the only roles for them to perform on-stage.
A big part of this complex legacy also has to with Matlin’s real life relationship with co-star William Hurt, which had a dark side to it that became a focal point of her memoir I’ll Scream Later. Matlin speaks frankly about it, and also opens up about her personal friendship with Happy Days actor Henry Winkler, who became like a surrogate parent to her during some of her darkest moments dealing with addiction and abuse. The candid moments that Stern captures between them now are quite sweet.
The most interesting aspect of the film, and what sets it apart from just being another celebrity biodoc (though it is a polished and worthy addition to the genre), is the fact that it’s directed by a filmmaker who is also Deaf. Stern communicates with hearing subjects through an interpreter, while interviews with Matlin and other Deaf subjects are presented without dialogue, entirely through American Sign Language and subtitles. It’s a unique and bold approach, that taps into the film’s larger themes.
Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)
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