Do NOT stop reading, please, because you don’t think you can relate to the title of this film “Deaf President Now!” You can. We all can. The surprisingly uplifting and sometimes humorous documentary of the week-long fight in 1988 from students at Gallaudet University, the only deaf university in the world, is incredibly entertaining and inspiring. In other words, it’s a movie you don’t want to miss and you can thank me later for recommending it.
As I indicated, this is a true story told with the present day “characters,” four to be exact, as they recount that pivotal week in Washington, D.C. when the school’s board of trustees, lead by Jane Bassett Spilman, elected yet another hearing president, Elisabeth Zinzer. The students, for 124 years, wanted a president who understood their world, their needs, and how to help them succeed. They not only wanted but needed a deaf president. With two qualified deaf options, one a dean at the school, I. King Jordan, the students began to protest as the board made their decision to hire a hearing president. The students revolted peacefully and intelligently as it was now time for change.
This is a story of how voices, individually, are small, but when they join together in unison, they can be deafeningly loud. We meet Tim, Jerry, Greg and Bridgette as adults in the current day, all with unique personalities and approaches to fighting the elite school board members. Thanks to footage and photos, we also meet these brave young people back in 1988. Their various approaches and comical recollections of one another, we see how differences can make a system work rather than tear it apart.
The style of filmmaking brings us into the story itself. We feel a part of the protests and the injustices with the consequences for each and every student. We see how these young students took on not only the school, but became spokespersons for all who are in the minority and are oppressed. The situation rang true not only nationally, but globally.
The creative editing brings you into the deaf world as one moment the shouts and music are loud and abruptly it becomes a muffled silence. These jarring moments bring you an understanding as do the evocative words Jerry, Greg, Tim and Bridgette share about their upbringing, their past, and their obstacles. Paired with stellar cinematography, we have
jaw-dropping moments and a connection with the four students as the story unfolds seamlessly.
While 1988 was nearly 4 decades ago, the power of the people to stand up for one another is relevant in today’s world. You can’t help but draw parallel lines to the deaf community’s defiance and the outright oppression we see happening today. And as we get to know these four men and women, now in their 60’s, we know they were unwittingly thrust into a situation where they were to either sink or swim and they swam like Olympic champions. Their world today would perhaps be a different one if not for the courage they showed in their youth.
Yes, you will shed a tear or two, but more importantly, you will be inspired to be a better version of yourself, knowing that we all have what it takes to stand up for what is right.
Stream this now on Apple TV+
4 stars
