Rating: 
Summary: Sound and Fury
Review: If you could make your deaf children hear, would you do it? Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn't it? Well, not quite. You'd be surprised (as I was) to find out that the deaf community mostly resents the idea of cochlear implant because they fear that this would destroy their unique identity and culture. "Sound and Fury" does a tremendous job of presenting all different perspectives (deaf parents with deaf children, deaf parents with hearing children, hearing parents with deaf children, etc) and it's astonishing to see how each group of people feel differently about cochlear implant as well as deafness in general. The story is extremely emotional and often heart-breaking, and you'll no doubt develop a strong opinion one way or the other. While I somewhat understand why the deaf community would be so reluctant to embrace the idea cochlear implant, I also found it very frustrating since I strongly believe that deaf children should be given the option of experiencing the hearing world, and developing their speech skills. But then again, that's easy for me to say -- I haven't the faintest idea what it's like to be deaf. It'd be interesting see a follow-up to this story in 5 years or so though, and see how the decision to (or not to) get cochlear implants has affected the lives of the children in this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: One of the best documentaries I have ever seen. The issue of the cochlear implant is apparently an emotional one in the deaf world. The families in this documentary (containing both deaf and non-deaf members) have intense arguments over it, resulting in crying and hurtful words. One deaf family even moves away to a deaf community in an attempt to justify not getting their young daughter a cochlear implant so she can hear and develop her speaking skills. It seems some people in the deaf community are more interested in keeping their children in the "deaf culture" than they are in providing them with the best opportunities life has to offer. This film is both tragic (a feisty girl who obviously wants the implant but whose parents won't let her have one), and joyful (the children who receive the implant and experience hearing for the first time). This film will hold your attention and let you see a side of our society that most of us are not aware of.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Deception
Review: The thing that is so dangerous about this video is that it seems so even handed. The video lulls you into the idea that it is fairly viewing both sides of the issue. The implant is so so dangerous- not simply because it will eliminate Deaf culture but because it enforces the REAL disability: a language delay. The longer parents go without giving their child a language the less chance the child has to acquire and master a language. Deafness is not a disability the kids can do anything any other kid can do- just in another language. Not having language IS a disability and the implant enforces the culture of oralism. When oralism fails you have a child with NO language and after a certain point, a child who cannot acquire language (i.e. a normal child is now in a sense mentally retarded child). The video NEVER addressed this point and never addressed the real success rates (less than 50%) merely made it a cultural issue. All but one of the kids that I know with an implant CAN'T TALK. This is not a "cure". There is way way way more at stake here! If your child is Deaf PLEASE look into linguistics, the effects of a language delay and ASL! Don't believe the hype- I have seen too many bright children suffer!
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Deception
Review: The thing that is so dangerous about this video is that it seems so even handed. The video lulls you into the idea that it is fairly viewing both sides of the issue. The implant is so so dangerous- not simply because it will eliminate Deaf culture but because it enforces the REAL disability: a language delay. The longer parents go without giving their child a language the less chance the child has to acquire and master a language. Deafness is not a disability the kids can do anything any other kid can do- just in another language. Not having language IS a disability and the implant enforces the culture of oralism. When oralism fails you have a child with NO language and after a certain point, a child who cannot acquire language (i.e. a normal child is now in a sense mentally retarded child). The video NEVER addressed this point and never addressed the real success rates (less than 50%) merely made it a cultural issue. All but one of the kids that I know with an implant CAN'T TALK. This is not a "cure". There is way way way more at stake here! If your child is Deaf PLEASE look into linguistics, the effects of a language delay and ASL! Don't believe the hype- I have seen too many bright children suffer!
Rating:
Summary: Oscar Nominated Documentary
Review: This doc features two brothers, one deaf, one hearing, and their families. Both families have children who are deaf and the parents must decide whether to have a cochlear implant surgery done on their child. The cochlear debate is an emotional one for anyone familiar with the deaf community. Questions of identity, cyborgs, genocide, and disability are debated, sometimes rationally and sometimes with fear, distrust, anger and bitterness on both sides. Going into this video I thought the answers were pretty obvious, but I left it with more questions and much empathy for the people who have to make these decisions. I highly recommend this video.
Rating:
Summary: Sound and Fury
Review: This film brings to life the humanity of science, and the inhumanity of those who manipulate their families. Sound and Fury makes a person think. Are implants abusive? Is keeping your child deaf abusive? Who should make the final decision? I loved this movie, and can't wait to own my own copy. I was moved by the honesty of all those who participated. The families were willing to show their good sides, and their bad. The argument of Cochlear Implants is a heated one. Each side feels as strongly as the other. This film may not change your mind, but it should at least make you think about the other side of the issue.
Rating:
Summary: Opening Eyes & Ears to the Debate
Review: This gets at the heart of it: deaf culture vs. mainstreaming in the hearing world. The documentary is very well done, picturing a family with two decisions concerning cochlear implant: you have or not to have. It then chronicles the debate within the family, with hearing parents and deaf and nondeaf children, and deaf grandchildren. This is interesting and very enlightening to those of us who have never been aware of this conflict, for it shows poignantly the two sides views and emotional attachments. We watched this as a small group, and the reaction was amazing:all seemed to see the decision to not let the one little girl who at first wanted the implant to not have it, as one that would limit her ability long term to do more. Truly provocative and well done. Worth watching and reviewing.
Rating:
Summary: Opening Eyes & Ears to the Debate
Review: This gets at the heart of it: deaf culture vs. mainstreaming in the hearing world. The documentary is very well done, picturing a family with two decisions concerning cochlear implant: you have or not to have. It then chronicles the debate within the family, with hearing parents and deaf and nondeaf children, and deaf grandchildren. This is interesting and very enlightening to those of us who have never been aware of this conflict, for it shows poignantly the two sides views and emotional attachments. We watched this as a small group, and the reaction was amazing:all seemed to see the decision to not let the one little girl who at first wanted the implant to not have it, as one that would limit her ability long term to do more. Truly provocative and well done. Worth watching and reviewing.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing film - deserving of praise
Review: This is a wonderful documentary and it accomplishes what a documentary should accomplish: an objective, balanced documentation of people's lives through film. The subjects are extrememely endearing and human. The conflict is tangible and the concerns of all the people are real.
Anyone interested in deaf culture will be riveted by this film in one way or another, but it is important for everyone to see this film.
As a hearing person with little experience in the deaf community, I walked away from this film with a new-found appreciation for the deaf culture that is, arguably, disappearing due to important technological advances.
I highly recommend this documentary to everyone young and old.
Rating:
Summary: incredible glimpse into "deaf culture"
Review: This show begins when a fiesty five year-old deaf girl asks her deaf parents for cochlear implants, so that she can communicate better with her hearing friends. As a hearing person, it is difficult for me to imagine why any parent wouldn't leap at the opportunity for their child to experience sounds -- but the deaf parents, even though they are clearly bright & loving parents, are not at all eager "to implant" their child. In the end, they decide to move to a community with a large deaf population so their children can appreciate "deaf culture." The girl's father has hearing parents -- and the girl's paternal grandmother is a huge proponent of implants. Interestingly, the father's brother is married to a woman with two deaf parents. (So there are two brothers -- one deaf with a deaf family, one hearing with a hearing wife & deaf inlaws). The brother and his wife, both hearing, give birth to a deaf son, and despite protest from the deaf members of the family, they proceed with the cochlear implants. The decision causes a huge rift in the family. Even in the hospital, after the surgery, the baby's deaf grandmother asks her hearing daughter, with a look of disgust, whether she would implant again if she were to have another deaf child. Almost across the board, hearing folks supported the implants and deaf folks were staunchly opposed to the implants. It's as if the implants are a slap in the face to the deaf population and "deaf culture". One thing that came across from the deaf people depicted in this show is that deaf folks are almos proud of their deafness, and they are clearly proud of their beautiful, expressive language. They do not generally view their deafness as a disability, so they don't understand the need to cure or alter the condition. The deaf parents who elected against the implants come across as good, caring, loving parents -- in a way that is difficult for a hearing person to understand.
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