Children Of A Lesser God Details

1986

Rated:
70
from 1003 members

Starring	William Hurt, Marlee Matlin, Piper Laurie, Philip Bosco
Director	Randa Haines
Genres	Drama

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Children Of A Lesser God

James Leeds (William Hurt), a handsome and dedicated teacher, just started his new assignment at an elite school for the deaf. Immediately, James begins using unconventional teaching methods to reach his students. Sure enough, he manages to inspire the most introverted pupils to participate in class. But there's one person James hasn't been able to reach: the deaf custodian, Sarah Norman (Marlee Matlin). Sarah, also an alumni of the school, has chosen to remain in the safe ecosystem of the hearing impaired. James, aroused by her beauty but put off by her cynical, cold manner, vows to know her more closely and tries to reach the sensitive woman hiding behind the tough exterior.
Based on Mark Medoff's Tony Award-winning play, CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD is a refreshing and original film. Matlin is both endearing and sensuous as the bitter Sarah. One feels warm and fuzzy inside as Leeds (Hurt) tries to coax the begrudging Sarah out of her shell. The directorial debut for T.V. veteran (HILL STREET BLUES, FAMILY) Randa Haines, CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD is a key film from the 1980s, it landmarks the growth of women directors in the industry and remains an inspiration for a generation of diverse filmmakers to come.

Starring	William Hurt, Marlee Matlin, Piper Laurie, Philip Bosco, Alison Gompf
Director	Randa Haines
Studio	PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time	DVD: 1 hr 55 mins
Certificate
Genres	Drama
Language	English
Dubbed	French, German, Italian, Spanish
Hearing-impaired	English
Released	DVD: 18 Nov 2002 Production year: 1986
Format	DVD

Critics' reviews (5) of Children Of A Lesser God
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This adaptation of Mark Medoff's poignant play, about a woman for whom life's challenge is the fact she cannot hear, picks up even more resonance in its understanding of the casual hurts we inflict upon the hearing-impaired. William Hurt is subtly complex as the speech therapist attracted to his pupil, but it's the first-time performance by deaf actress Marlee Matlin that brilliantly articulates both a character and a condition. She deservedly won an Oscar for her powerful portrayal.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
"...An exceptionally adroit adaptation of a play to the screen. As a film, it flows beautifully under Randa Haines' direction and has considerable humor as well as dramatic intensity..."
- Los Angeles Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
Most helpful member's review of Children Of A Lesser God
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13 out of 13 people found this review helpful

A painfully contrived drama, with a better cast than it deserves

James Leeds(William Hurt) arrives at a school for the deaf with an impressive CV. He's taught speech therapy at all the best schools, but he's also had spells as a bartender and DJ, so we know he's a bit unconventional.

His boss soon tells him that 'no-one's trying to change the world here' and his teaching methods are frowned upon by the establishment, but his crazy antics are soon getting results with his initially difficult pupils. However, a beautiful but stubborn girl named Sarah(Marlee Matlin) is the one he really wants to help. Soon the pair are in love, but her disability is proving a barrier in their relationship.

'Children of a Lesser God' is one of those films that's programmed, crafted and controlled from first frame to last; to tug at the heart-strings, win awards and let Hollywood show how mature and sensitive it is. There's nothing in this movie that feels spontaneous or free as it covers all the expected bases.

However, when you cast William Hurt you know you're going to get a performance of subtlety and intelligence. His character is such a cliche(the handsome, eccentric, idealistic teacher you find only in Hollywood) that he seems occasionally constricted by the role, but he offers a convincing portrayal of a loving, frustrated man desperate to fully understand his partner.

His performance is equalled by the Oscar-winning Marlee Matlin who, in her debut role, is outstanding as the troubled Sarah. She gives a gutsy display and has a strong chemistry with Hurt, which carries the story.

The rest of Randa Haines' conventional film is full of standard 'overcoming adversity' sequences(none worse than the deaf student's song-and-dance show) and an obvious climax.

Hurt and Matlin are marvellous throughout but are let down by the material. There are glimpses here of the drama this could have been before it's swamped by the Hollywood gloss. As expected, 'Children of a Lesser God' won plenty of plaudits and nominations, but it could have done so much more.
- - Philip Concannon from London
  - Posted 05 Oct 2004 23:20
Most recent members' review of Children Of A Lesser God
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Not my scene

It drags a bit and I didn't rate it at all yet my wife loved it as she loves William Hurt, so am giving it 3 stars
- - A customer from sunderland
  - Posted 15 Jul 2005 11:33
News and features
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Matlin heard of Oscar nomination in rehab
- 15 Apr 2009
Oscar winner Marlee Matlin was in rehab when she learned she had been nominated for an Academy Award. The deaf actress checked into the Betty Ford Clinic in California, seeking help for a drug problem that was spiralling out of control - and it was while she was getting the help she needed that she was officially invited to the Oscars - as a nominee. The Children of A Lesser God star recalls the moment she found out she'd be among the Oscar hopefuls in her new book I'll Scream Later and she... Read more
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