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Children of a Lesser God

"Love has a language all of its own."

1986-09-13 Drama 1hr 59m

Starting his new job as an instructor at a New England school for the deaf, James Leeds meets Sarah Norman, a young deaf woman who works at the school as a member of the custodial staff. In spite of Sarah's withdrawn emotional state, a romance slowly develops between the pair.

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Children of a Lesser God
Amazon Video

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Storyline

Starting his new job as an instructor at a New England school for the deaf, James Leeds meets Sarah Norman, a young deaf woman who works at the school as a member of the custodial staff. In spite of Sarah's withdrawn emotional state, a romance slowly develops between the pair.

  • Released
    1986-09-13
  • Revenue
    $31,853,080
  • Budget
    n/a
  • Runtime
    1hr 59m
  • Genre
    Drama, Romance
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    7.2
  • Production
    Paramount Pictures

Crew

Randa Haines
Director
Mark Medoff
Screenplay
Burt Sugarman
Producer
Keywords:
deaf-mute deaf man woman relationship listening teacher teacher student relationship woman director sign languages teachers and students schoolroom deaf girl deafness

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Cast

William Hurt

William Hurt
James Leeds
Marlee Matlin

Marlee Matlin
Sarah Norman
Piper Laurie

Piper Laurie
Mrs. Norman
Philip Bosco

Philip Bosco
Dr. Curtis Franklin
Allison Gompf

Allison Gompf
Lydia
John F. Cleary

John F. Cleary
Johnny
Philip Holmes

Philip Holmes
Glen
Georgia Ann Cline

Georgia Ann Cline
Cheryl
William D. Byrd

William D. Byrd
Danny
Frank Carter Jr.

Frank Carter Jr.
Tony
John Limnidis

John Limnidis
William
Bob Hiltermann

Bob Hiltermann
Orin
E. Katherine Kerr

E. Katherine Kerr
Mary Lee Ochs
John Basinger

John Basinger
Alan Jones
Barry Magnani

Barry Magnani
Tom Schuyler
Linda Bove

Linda Bove
Marian Loesser
Ann Hanson

Ann Hanson
Martha Franklin
James Carrington

James Carrington
Mr. Harrison
Max M. Brown

Max M. Brown
Glen's Father
María Cellario

María Cellario
Glen's Mother
Jon-Paul Dougherty

Jon-Paul Dougherty
Glen's Brother
Linda Swim

Linda Swim
Sarah's Friend
Lois Clowater

Lois Clowater
Sarah's Friend
Allan R. Francis

Allan R. Francis
Waiter
Richard Kendall

Richard Kendall
Cafeteria Cook
Christopher Shay

Christopher Shay
Ricky
Laraine Isa

Laraine Isa
Woman in Beauty Shop
Nanci Kendall

Nanci Kendall
Woman at Party
Marie Brazil

Marie Brazil
Mother
Charlene Legere

Charlene Legere
Child
Leigh French

Leigh French
Announcer
Archie Hahn

Archie Hahn
Announcer
Jack Blessing

Jack Blessing
Announcer
Nicholas Guest

Nicholas Guest
Announcer
Gigi Vorgan

Gigi Vorgan
Announcer
Lynne Marie Stewart

Lynne Marie Stewart
Announcer

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Children of a Lesser God
Children of a Lesser God
Children of a Lesser God
Children of a Lesser God
Children of a Lesser God
Children of a Lesser God
Children of a Lesser God

Movie Reviews

Reviews for Children of a Lesser God
reviewer avatar

A Review by Wuchak 7

Written by Wuchak on 2019-02-10

***A school for the deaf on a Maine island with William Hurt and Marlee Matlin*** A teacher (William Hurt) moves to coastal Maine to work... read more

***A school for the deaf on a Maine island with William Hurt and Marlee Matlin*** A teacher (William Hurt) moves to coastal Maine to work at a school for the deaf on an island where he becomes interested in a striking, but disturbed janitor (Marlee Matlin), who was once a student there. "Children of a Lesser God" (1986) is part celestial and mundane; beautiful and profane. Thankfully there’s more beauty. The Northeast coastal locations are wonderful and Hurt makes for a worthy protagonist while expertly pulling off a difficult role. Marlee Matlin is an exquisite revelation without which the movie would’ve failed. Everything builds to a stunning dramatic scene in the second half, which is expertly executed. Unfortunately, the couple hooks-up a little prematurely. More time should’ve been spent with the journey to consummation. Nonetheless, there are great moments here. The film runs 1 hour, 59 minutes and was shot in New Brunswick, Canada (Rothesay, Saint John & Beaver Harbour). GRADE: B

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 6

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-04-11

Acclaimed teacher "James" (William Hurt) arrives at a school for the deaf where his very "hands on" techniques rather shake the established ... read more

Acclaimed teacher "James" (William Hurt) arrives at a school for the deaf where his very "hands on" techniques rather shake the established order of superintendent "Franklin" (Philip Bosco). His pupils make good progress, though, as his methods start to encourage them to speak more and act with much more confidence amidst each other and amongst the talking community at large. Soon they playing a bit of second fiddle to the enigmatic "Sarah" (Marlee Matlin). She's now the school caretaker and has a reputation as a bit stand-offish and temperamental, but it turns out that she, too, is deaf and that she has also been in this establishment for over twenty years. Most people around the place just put up with her, but he determines to try to get to the bottom of her obvious frustrations and see if he can't help her deal with them. Initially a job of work for the man, this soon becomes something more visceral and intimate for both - and that tests the mettle of just about everyone. It's probably a testament to Matlee's strong and characterful performance here that I just didn't take to "Sarah" at all. I found the character - whatever her background, an angry and somewhat obnoxious creature who offered little for me to feel sympathetic towards. Not in a woe-is-me type of sympathy, just in a general sense of there ever being a likeable person under all the baggage. Their frequent rows and tantrums come across as increasingly contrived and by the end I thought the writing was on the wall for the pair as far as the plot was concerned and I didn't really care whether she spoke or didn't. I do think that shows her skill as an actress, and to an extent William Hurt's as a foil, but somehow this film resonated far more for what it meant politically and sensually at the time as a pice of profound innovation than it did dramatically on screen..

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by Wuchak

***A school for the deaf on a Maine island with William Hurt and Marlee Matlin*** A teacher (William Hurt) moves to coastal Maine to work at a school for the deaf on an island where he becomes interested in a striking, but disturbed jani...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Wuchak 7

Written by Wuchak on 2019-02-10

***A school for the deaf on a Maine island with William Hurt and Marlee Matlin*** A teacher (William Hurt) moves to coastal Maine to work at a school for the deaf on an island where he becomes inte...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 6

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-04-11

Acclaimed teacher "James" (William Hurt) arrives at a school for the deaf where his very "hands on" techniques rather shake the established order of superintendent "Franklin" (Philip Bosco). His pupil...

read more