Children of a Lesser God is a love story about a speech teacher who falls for a beautiful yet distant deaf girl in a small New England school for the deaf, and the obstacles that they face due to their differences.

William Hurt plays James Leeds, a renegade teacher with an unconventional approach to education and a resume that includes stints as a bartender and a disk jockey.

Upon his arrival, he is warned by school administrator Dr. Franklin Philip Bosco not to get creative with his instruction. Naturally, Leeds already has his mind set on his teaching plan and proceeds to play loud rock music in class in order to teach the students to feel the vibrations of the music and get them to try to speak phonetically.

A new element enters his life when he meets the attractive custodian, Sarah (Marlee Matlin). An exceptionally intelligent yet extremely bitter young woman, Sarah is a graduate of the school who has decided to remain there, in the confines of her world of silence; it’s safer for her to be with her own “people” than to face what she perceives as a cruel and uncaring world.

She hardly seems interested in James and will only communicate with him through signing, although she can read lips and even speak a little. James learns from Sarah’s mother (Piper Laurie) that Sarah was sexually molested as a teenager; this explains why she is so wary of his attempts to form a relationship with her and why she is so full of fear. Eventually, James does get through to Sarah and the two fall in love, although both have to learn new ways to communicate their feelings.

Marlee Matlin won an Academy Award in 1986 for Best Actress. Almost completely deaf in real life since the early age of 18 months, she is the youngest actress to have received an Oscar for Best Actress (she was 21 at the time).

Children of a Lesser God

deletereply redheadgirl4 wrote on Jan 20, ’08 Oh I love this movie!!! Marlee Matlin was just brilliant in it. Great choice and review!

deletereply watersocky wrote on Jan 20, ’08 yup i have see that movie many time it was cool and i am deaf too

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jan 20, ’08 It was a wonderful movie, and the acting was great, too !

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jan 20, ’08 It hits home, as a teacher of the deaf.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jan 20, ’08 I remember you taught the deaf years ago. It must have been a very challenging experience.

deletereply watersocky wrote on Jan 20, ’08 i love that movie alot it was soo cool i agree with u hug

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jan 20, ’08 A big HUG to you, too, watersocky!

deletereply watersocky wrote on Jan 20, ’08 AWWW BIG HUG to u my lauritasita love u girls

deletereply watersocky wrote on Jan 20, ’08 yup all my life i wa born deaf but i am cool and hope we friends for life you are great i am happy tear wish hug u real

deletereply philsgal7759 wrote on Jan 21, ’08 this is a wonderful film thankls for sharing it

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jan 21, ’08 I would recommend everyone to see it. I definitely found it interesting and enjoyable, too.