Deaf

About the film:

Ángela (Miriam Garlo), a deaf woman, and Héctor, her hearing partner, are expecting a child. They are excited about the pregnancy, although they do not yet know whether the baby will be deaf or hearing. Despite both claiming they can handle whatever comes, their underlying concerns are evident. After a complicated and emotionally intense labour, Ángela gives birth to their daughter.

Eva Libertad’s debut feature Deaf, developed from her 2021 short of the same name, sees a couple’s seemingly solid bond tested by the arrival of their first baby. This journey forces both of them to question their roles as partners and parents, as Ángela grapples with her identity in a society that does not fully accept or understand her.

Garlo´s performance showcases these complex and contradictory feelings with naturalistic authenticity. The director’s real-life connection to her lead shines in every scene. The emotions feel truly rooted in her personal experience.

Deaf is a deeply emotional examination of what having a baby can mean for a mixed deaf and hearing couple. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival receiving the Panorama Award for Best Feature Film.

Spanish director Eva Libertad’s film explores where access, language and trying to keep a family together under the extreme pressure of new parenthood and social expectations come to a point. This is an unpretentious story about small emotional shifts, blossoming compassion, and new ways of listening.

About the festival:

ESCENA. Oslo Ibero-amerikanske filmdager is a platform for cultural exchange between Norway and the Ibero-American region.

The aim of the festival is to promote the interest in film from the Spanish and Portuguese speaking nations of Europe and the Americas and showcase the vibrant film expressions of these nations.

The films convey social, political, and historical aspects of this cultural context as well as the challenges currently facing the societies of the region. Even though these nations share a common cultural mainstream; they form a rich tapestry of diverse backgrounds that translate into their cinematic expression.

ESCENA also provides a gathering place and discussion forum for film enthusiasts, for those with roots in the region and others who have an interest in Ibero-America.