As a fervent advocate for inclusive storytelling and representation, I find myself profoundly moved by the imminent production of “Retreat,” the world’s first deaf thriller. The director, Tim Evans, is a beacon of inspiration, having navigated the industry with grace and tenacity despite his hearing impairment. His journey mirrors that of Matt, the protagonist in Retreat, who questions his identity within an isolated community – a metaphor for Evans’ own quest for representation in Hollywood.
In Hollywood’s ongoing discussion about diversity and inclusion, filming has started on what is being called “the world’s initial deaf thriller,” titled “Retreat.” Tim Evans, who has experience in the industry and is hearing impaired himself, will be directing this movie, which marks his debut as a feature film director. Prior to this, he had co-written and directed films for the Paralympics Opening Ceremony in 2012, produced several award-winning shorts, and recently directed his first music video.
The story unfolds within a secluded deaf society, where Matt’s (Boyle) tranquil existence is challenged when Eva (Zander), a mysterious stranger, enters. As Matt grapples with the unknown, he must confront the possibility that his perfect world might harbor secrets and that upholding its supposed perfection may come at a steep price.
There Have Been Other Movies Before Retreat That Have an All-Deaf Cast
While Retreat claims to be the first-ever deaf “thriller”, it’s important to note that there have been films before it featuring an entirely deaf cast. For instance, the 1975 horror film Deafula was shot entirely using American Sign Language, although a dubbed soundtrack was included for viewers who didn’t understand it. Another example is the 2014 Ukrainian crime drama The Tribe, which revolved around a pimp’s romantic entanglements with one of the deaf girls he was exploiting at a boarding school for hearing-impaired teenagers. This movie, too, was spoken entirely in sign language.
Additionally, you’ll find other contemporary films showcasing deaf performers such as “Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire,” “A Quiet Place” and its sequels, along with “Eternals,” which introduced the first deaf superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Makkari, played by Lauren Ridloff. However, it’s also worth noting that there have been films where hearing actors portrayed deaf main characters. A notable recent example is Bill Skarsgård in “Boy Kills World.
In terms of representation, the Skarsgård movie faced criticism for choosing a hearing actor for the main role instead of a deaf one. This issue is not lost on Todd Brown, head of international acquisitions at XYZ Films. He assures us that the upcoming thriller will draw inspiration from two well-known films, one being “CODA,” which won the 2022 Academy Award for Best Picture.
From the very beginning, we were instantly captivated by this extraordinary and gripping universe depicted in the script. Picture a fusion of Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation with CODA, and you’ll get a sense of the world found within Evans’ Retreat. It’s filled with tension and impact, and there’s simply nothing quite like it.
It’s possible he overlooked all the previously mentioned movies, given that something similar seems to have existed already. However, this doesn’t mean that Retreat won’t be distinctively original; it’s refreshing to observe that Evans and their team are striving to enhance deaf representation in the industry, an area that has faced challenges for quite some time.
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2024-10-29 22:32