Representation has been a problem in Hollywood for such a long time. It is without question one of cinema’s greatest and pleasant offerings. It completely rules that filmmakers like Sian Heder can make such an endearing film like “Coda” that can pay so much respect to the deaf community similar to how Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz paid respect to people with down syndrome in “The Peanut Butter Falcon”. Since it is a remake of a French film from 2014 called “La Famille Bélier”, this film says that there is still hope that remakes of either an English-language film or a foreign film can truly stay on their own merit.

Ruby Rossi (played by Emilia Jones) is the only person in her family to not be deaf since the rest of the family obviously is. Her family is associated with the fishing business and she plans to be associated with the business after she graduates high school. Ruby’s family is struggling with the fish business while she is taking a choir class in her local high school despite not having any experience with music in general. Her main passion however in her heart is to not be associated with the fishing business with her family. Ruby wants to be applied for the Berklee College of Music in Boston due to her passion for music, but she is left tormented between having a desire to abandon her parents and pursuing her passion for music.

This film is not just a wonderful sophomore feature from Heder, but it is a brilliant love letter to the deaf community 100%. Heder herself develops so much sympathy for Ruby’s passionate love for music and her dreams that it does not feel like a corny Hallmark Original Movie. This in-depth character study could be the first Best Picture Oscar contender of 2021. Between this, “Free Guy”, and “The Mitchells vs. The Machines”, it could be hard to determine what is my favorite of this year.

Every single relationship that Ruby is in that is showcased in the film does not feel wooden nor corny where instead it feels realistic and engaging. Emilia Jones delivers the breakthrough performance of 2021 as Ruby, a teenager living with a deaf family. Sian Heder is not afraid to showcase Ruby’s fears of being made fun as the only deaf person in the choir despite the fact that she is not deaf. It is clear that her motivation to pursue a life in the music business has such a perfect focus.

One of the great aspects about this film is the family dynamic of the Rossi family. There are times that the dynamic can be endearing and quite funny at times and there are times that the dynamic can run into problems. Heder is also not afraid to showcase the struggle of a deaf family especially with the fishing problems they go through.

However, an actor who I think deserves a Best Supporting Actor campaign is Eugenio Derbez’s phenomenal performance as Ruby’s choir teacher Mr. Villalobos. Coming off terrible comedies such as “How to Be a Latin Lover” and the “Overboard” remake, he delivers a similar performance in the vein of J.K. Simmons in “Whiplash” except a bit more nicer. Derbez still does contain the toughness characteristics of a music teacher, but he feels like an important part of Ruby’s life to motivate her to get involved in the music business.

The musical performances especially with the covers of “You’re All I Need to Get By” and “Both Sides Now” honestly made me choke up probably because of how powerful Emilia Jones’ singing is.

Some problems the movie does run through are so little that it doesn’t quite bother it’s endearing film making. I honestly think that the film itself could easily use a better music score considering that it sounds like it can come off like it is from Nicholas Sparks schmaltz. Also, the humor aside from the family dynamic felt quite weak for me.

I cannot believe I am saying this but 2021 is slowly turning from one of the worst years in film history into a solid year for films because of August. Thank Sian Heder, one of the saviors of 2021 who made the most inspirational and endearing film of the year so far. I’m praying this does get in as one of the ten films in the Best Picture line-up at the Oscars this year. If not, the Oscars truly have problems with representation and snubbing films.

Grade: 9/10