Deaf President Now! was another Sundance film that I had wished Morgan and I picked over Bubble & Squeak, and now that I’ve seen both films, I can say I was totally right in wishing we had picked it. I’m not sure why we didn’t—sign language and the Deaf community have always been a big interest of mine (I’ve taken numerous sign language courses, but never had the discipline to keep learning and actually retain much)—and Deaf President Now! spoke to that interest so clearly.

For the most part, the film played the normal documentary beats, but it was the film’s smart use of sound (and silence), interviewing the right (and the most interesting) people from the events, and transitions from archival footage to staged reenactments that gave the documentary life and a unique voice. The film also did a great job highlighting the moral and vocal development of the main protesters, especially Greg Hlibok and I. King Jordan. A couple of late scenes—Greg being interviewed on ABC News and Jordan’s change of heart in front of the student body—really stood out to me, and elevated the emotional core of the documentary.

The issue of equality in representation for the deaf community was one that I resonated with—again, I’m not Deaf, nor do I know anyone who is—and the way the film showcased parallels to other instances of unjust discrimination in America (by showing those previously marginalized groups standing with the Deaf community) was pretty powerful. It was harrowing as well to see just how underrepresented the Deaf students were before these protests. How could their President, as well as most of the Board of Trustees, not only be hearing, but NOT KNOW SIGN? Mind-numbing.

The interviews that held this documentary together were all great as well. The students and Jordan brought such a firsthand, really on-the-ground perspective to the whole situation, and it was both cool and a bit horrifying that they were all still alive and able to be a part of this film (especially Jordan; crazy that this was only in 1988). 

Deaf President Now! was quite possibly a sign to me (pun not intended, but appreciated) that I should give sign language another try, but I need to take this film’s advice on it: it takes years to get it down. I have become quite the fan of documentaries as of late, but only when they’re made as carefully and deeply as the last few that I’ve watched. Deaf President Now! moved me and highlighted a group and their fight that I seem to care deeply about. Time to break out the ASL textbook, I think.