Prompts winter weather advisories as cold air moves in Friday night

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

It's a huge weekend for Duluth actor Daniel Durant. His new film “CODA” opens in theaters across the country and begins streaming on Apple TV+. 

The family drama, which already has won multiple awards at the Sundance Film Festival, draws its title from the acronym for Child of Deaf Adults.  

The Rossi family works together in the fishing business off the Massachusetts coast.   

Ruby, the younger child, is the only hearing member of the family. She has dreams of becoming a singer, and tells her mother, Jackie, that she is joining her high school choir. 

Jackie signs. "If I were blind, would you want to paint?"  

Ruby stares incredulous for a moment then explodes.

"Why is it always about you?" she demands. "I'm meeting people. I am making friends. You know what, you should get out in the world too."

"Really what this movie is about is the CODA experience," Daniel Durant signed, with an ASL interpreter speaking. "Like what they go through and also what a Deaf family looks like."

Durant plays Leo, the older brother dedicated to help the family business prosper. He's felt displaced ever since Ruby was born. 

Played by Emilia Jones, Ruby is torn between her loyalty to her family and her desire to sing. As a link to the hearing community she's important for the family business. Yet singing could win her a college scholarship. 

And like many teenagers, she finds her parents embarrassing. 

In one scene, her folks come to pick up Ruby at the end of the school day with rap music blaring out of their truck. Her dad likes it loud so he can feel the vibration through his seat. Ruby is furious and they battle over the volume.

"I mean, that's a true thing," Daniel Durant said about one of his favorite scenes. "I always crank my radio whenever I go. Any kind of music that has a loud thumping bass, I can enjoy that because I can feel that."  

Durant loved the poetic physicality of American Sign Language even as a kid. 

"For example, I've watched the Star Wars movie and then I would tell the story of Star Wars, and people could see the kineticism of that movie on my hands," he said.

When he was young, a Deaf teacher's aide in his mainstream school in Duluth suggested Durant try a drama program. He ended up with the lead role in his first show.

He switched to the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, and later attended Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. 

He's acted on stage, including a Broadway production of the musical “Spring Awakening” by the L.A.-based company Deaf West Theatre. Durant had a recurring role in the ABC Family series "Switched at Birth."

That’s where he first worked with Marlee Matlin (“Children of a Lesser God”, “Picket Fences”), a prominent Deaf actor and Durant’s idol.  

Though intimidated, he found her warm and helpful, as was veteran Deaf actor Troy Kotsur (“The Mandalorian”). In “CODA,” they play the parents with a gleeful ferocity.  

At its January world premiere, “CODA” took the four top prizes at the Sundance Film Festival. Due to COVID-19, at the time of the interview, Durant had not seen the film with an audience. 

"And I want them to kind of forget that we are Deaf. I mean, is that going to happen? I don't know. But I'd like for them to like see the family dynamic in this and just feel what this family feels."

'CODA' will yank shamelessly on your heartstrings ... but it's very good at it

Arts and Culture

Shows

Morning Edition

NewsPartners

Euan Kerr

Author

Daniel Durant, deaf since birth, has acted since he was 8 years old. He’s appeared on Broadway and TV, and now has a pivotal role in “CODA,” which won four major awards at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.    

Daniel Durant, deaf since birth, has acted since he was 8 years old. He’s appeared on Broadway, and TV, and now has a pivotal role in “CODA,” which won four major awards at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Duluth actor gets his biggest stage yet in the new movie 'CODA'

Go Deeper.

Like this?