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In the Land of the Deaf

Synopsis

In the Land of the Deaf is a critically acclaimed documentary feature which takes the viewer on a journey through the world of silence inhabited by an estimated 130 million people worldwide, including one million Canadians alone.

This remarkable film invites the viewer into the world of Deaf language and culture. Whoever ventures into The Land of the Deaf will be struck by the choreographic beauty of the signs Deaf people use to express themselves. Since the beginning of time, these signs have constituted a true language in which each concept, each idea, is expressed as an image drawn in space and time. These signs, as precise and complex as any spoken language, lend themselves equally well to declarations of love or highly detailed technical descriptions.

As a visual language constructed over time and space, signing may be compared to cinema, using the individual sign or film frame as its basic building block. That is the artistic idea behind this warm and very entertaining film by Nicholas Philibert, whose previous films have collected over 25 awards.

Spoken in French and French sign language, In the Land of the Deaf is subtitled in English, making it accessible to all. The bulk of the film is comprised of Deaf people telling about the richness of their normal lives in anecdotes which are often humourous and touching: the charismatic sign language teacher, the young Deaf boy struggling to speak, the wedding of a young Deaf couple. In short, In the Land of the Deaf is "completely inspiring" (Variety).

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Director's Note

by: Nicholas Philibert

What is the world like for the thousands of people who live in silence?

Jean-Claude, Abou, Claire, Florent and all the rest, who have been totally deaf since birth or since the early months of their lives, dream, think and communicate through signs.

With them we set off to discover that distant land where seeing and touching are of such crucial importance. This film tells their story and gives us a glimpse of the world through their eyes.

Credits

Director and Screenplay
Nicholas Philibert

Executive Producer
Serge Lalou

Cinematographer
Frederic Labourasse

Editors
Anja Ludcke, Guy Lecome

Production Management
Francoise Buraux, Valery Gaillard

Sound
Julien Cloquet, Henri Maikoff

Music
François Marillier

Other Crew
Thierry Roisin

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Images

Links

Director's web site
imdb entry

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