
Sundance Review: ‘Opus’ is a Middling Tale of Music, Cults, Ambition, and Obliviousness
January 28, 2025
Sundance Review: ‘Magic Farm’ is a Bizarre, Creative Look at Motivation and Culture
January 29, 2025What does true representation look like? At the very least, it means listening to the relevant population to understand what they want. Deaf President Now! begins in 1988 at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. when two Deaf candidates for president of the university for Deaf students are passed over in favor of a hearing woman and the student population refuses to accept this decision, resolute that, after 124 years, the time is now to have a president who truly understands the student body.
Four student leaders are at the center of this film, including student body president Greg Hlibok, are the subjects of this film, each relaying what they remember of the protests and their roles in them. The film digs much deeper, offering a brief peek into each of their backgrounds, probing how they were brought up to think about being Deaf in a hearing world. They bring those experiences into their passion for representation, and they all exhibit a true distaste for Jane Spilman, the president of the board of trustees who explicitly tells the students that a hearing person was chosen because Deaf people aren’t ready for that kind of position. Though she tries to later claim that her words were misinterpreted, the mere fact that she doesn’t know how to sign is condescending enough, and her actions to continue to install Elisabeth Zinser signify a doubling-down against the clearly-expressed wishes of the university’s students.
This film tells a little-known story with a tremendous impact, and there’s something truly incredible about seeing a campus so united by a desire for something they all want. While some worry about the consequences of the protests, and others aren’t sure that a push for a Deaf president is something they want to make their cause, they all seem to agree that they want someone who can actually relate to them. This battle isn’t without its missteps, like Hlibok’s initially passive performance on a Ted Koppel interview and I. King Jordan’s decision to publicly stand with the university just after expressing solidarity with the students, conflicted in his role both as a dean at the school and one of the passed-over Deaf candidates.
This film marks an excellent collaboration between directors Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim. DiMarco expressed at the film’s Sundance premiere that this was originally pitched as a narrative feature, but he quickly realized that the story would be more effective utilizing the wealth of archive footage available and interviews with its primary participants. Guggenheim is a perfect partner for him thanks to his extensive documentary background, and this film takes a similar approach to conveying stillness and sound to his most recent Sundance feature, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. Creating a film meant to be appreciated by both Deaf and hearing audiences alike is an impressive ambition, and this film, which includes closed captioning for all dialogue and offscreen interpreters to voice its subjects’ words, truly does aim for a cohesive and universal viewing experience.
The four people profiled in this film are all full of life and energy, and the interviews conducted with them are cleverly and constructively edited together to create a masterfully compelling and riveting narrative. When first asked about their fellow leaders, they offer some thoughts that can be described as less than kind, infusing some humor into an energizing story. They share how they’ve learned to sign (one says that he’ll need a bigger frame since he gets animated and even hits the boom with his hand at one point) and respond to the many developments in this eventful and transformative week. This film is a powerful testament to what these students accomplished and a resounding affirmation of one community’s right to exist and have someone to speak for them.
Movie Rating: 9/10