Sweet Nothing in My Ear
Encyclopedia
Sweet Nothing in My Ear is a television movie
that debuted on the CBS
television network as a Hallmark Hall of Fame
movie on April 20, 2008. The film is directed by Joseph Sargent
, and is based on a 1998 play of the same name by Stephen Sachs
, who also wrote the teleplay. It stars Jeff Daniels
and Marlee Matlin
as the parents of a deaf child, played by Noah Valencia, who struggle with deciding to give their child an implant
that will allow him to hear again.
With the film Hallmark Channel
and producer-director Joseph Sargent
revisited deafness with a universal theme contemplating the relationship of a minority group to society at large, 23 years after their previous film around a similar theme, the Emmy-winning, "Love Is Never Silent" (1985).
Daniels studied American Sign Language
before filming, in order to portray the language accurately.
A rift forms between Dan and Laura when Dan starts to favor the procedure and Laura and her deaf parents oppose it. Soon what opens up is a larger issue of deaf pride, also ethical issues around Cochlear implants and its effect of the deaf culture
, as Laura's father Max, a deaf pride advocate, puts it, "The majority always thinks each minority wants to be like them", as he doesn't consider deafness a disability, and hence remains against the implants. Dan on the other hand sees this a deaf prejudice against him, and hearing people, when he simply wants to give his son a better future.
Soon, they take the dispute to a child custody hearing, but in the end decide to work it out on their own and stay a family.
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
that debuted on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television network as a Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The second longest-running television program in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2011...
movie on April 20, 2008. The film is directed by Joseph Sargent
Joseph Sargent
Joseph Sargent is an American film director. He has directed many television movies, but his best known feature film works are probably White Lightning, MacArthur, Nightmares and Jaws: The Revenge, with his most popular film being The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. He has won four Emmy Awards...
, and is based on a 1998 play of the same name by Stephen Sachs
Stephen Sachs
Stephen Sachs is an award-winning stage director and playwright. He is currently the Co-Artistic Director of The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, which he co-founded in 1990.- Biography :...
, who also wrote the teleplay. It stars Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels
Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan...
and Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Bethany Matlin is an American actress. She is the only deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy...
as the parents of a deaf child, played by Noah Valencia, who struggle with deciding to give their child an implant
Cochlear implant
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing...
that will allow him to hear again.
With the film Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
and producer-director Joseph Sargent
Joseph Sargent
Joseph Sargent is an American film director. He has directed many television movies, but his best known feature film works are probably White Lightning, MacArthur, Nightmares and Jaws: The Revenge, with his most popular film being The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. He has won four Emmy Awards...
revisited deafness with a universal theme contemplating the relationship of a minority group to society at large, 23 years after their previous film around a similar theme, the Emmy-winning, "Love Is Never Silent" (1985).
Daniels studied American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
before filming, in order to portray the language accurately.
Plot
Dan and Laura Miller (Daniels, Matlin) have been married for several years, but their relationship begins to change when their only son, Adam (Valencia), loses his hearing at the age of four. At first his parents accept this change because Laura is deaf herself. Though later, Dan begins to explore the idea that with a surgical procedure and cochlear implants his son may be able to hear once again.A rift forms between Dan and Laura when Dan starts to favor the procedure and Laura and her deaf parents oppose it. Soon what opens up is a larger issue of deaf pride, also ethical issues around Cochlear implants and its effect of the deaf culture
Deaf culture
Deaf culture describes the social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values and shared institutions of communities that are affected by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication. When used as a cultural label, the word deaf is often written with a...
, as Laura's father Max, a deaf pride advocate, puts it, "The majority always thinks each minority wants to be like them", as he doesn't consider deafness a disability, and hence remains against the implants. Dan on the other hand sees this a deaf prejudice against him, and hearing people, when he simply wants to give his son a better future.
Soon, they take the dispute to a child custody hearing, but in the end decide to work it out on their own and stay a family.
Cast
- Marlee MatlinMarlee MatlinMarlee Bethany Matlin is an American actress. She is the only deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy...
as Laura Miller - Jeff DanielsJeff DanielsJeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan...
as Dan Miller - Noah Valencia as Adam Miller
- Sonya Walger as Joanna Tate -
- Ed WaterstreetEd WaterstreetEd Waterstreet is the founder and artistic director of Deaf West Theatre, which was established in 1991, and was the first resident theatre company in America operating under the direction of a deaf artistic director....
as Max - Phyllis Frelich as Sally
- David OyelowoDavid Oyelowo- Background :Oyelowo was born in Oxford, England of Nigerian descent. He is married to actress Jessica Oyelowo and they have three sons.Oyelowo first attended a youth theatre after being invited by a girl to whom he was attracted. He then studied Theatre Studies for A level and his teacher...
as Leonard Grisham
External links
- Sweet Nothing in My Ear at CBS.com
- Sweet Nothing in My Ear at Hallmark.com