SUNDANCE 2025: Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

As a human who has been othered my entire life as a Black woman, stories about individuals defying the odds despite what my obviously look like a hinderance to success always strike a chord.  Especially when history is made in the process of proving everyone around you wrong.

When most cinephiles think of a film centered around deafness, it is 1962’s “The Miracle Worker,” which resulted in Oscar wins for Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke.  Yet, we wouldn’t actually see a deaf actor in a lead film role until Marlee Matlin hit screens with her Oscar winning performance as  Sarah in Children of a Lesser God. Matlin fire and determination was one of the driving forces behind CODA, which swelled our hearts and swept awards season taking home the statuette for Best Motion Picture and Best Actor (Troy Kotsur).

In 1987, Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award  at 21 years old. With Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, she reflects on her life using American Sign Language (ASL) while exploring the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer alongside filmmaker Shoshannah Stern.

Stern’s directorial debut is an intimate, honest and loving conversation between two profoundly connected people weaving Matlin’s first-person account with interviews from those who know her best while unapologetically letting us in on the good, the bad and the traumatic throughout her career. From Matlin’s early days and major successes to her famously tumultuous high-profile relationship with Oscar winner William Hurt, to years of being ignored and patronized by Hollywood, getting sober and repeatedly changing the game for her community with and without their approval.

Some of those moments include  speaking out on “Nightline” in solidarity of the student body demanding the appointment of a deaf President at Gallaudet (which would a first in their 124 year history.) Yet, when she received backlash for speaking the names of the nominees as a presenter at the Academy Awards, it was the deaf community who rallied  and supported her.

Being cheered on by her mentor Henry Winkler, Marlee has defied the odds with memorable roles on Seinfeld, The West Wing, voiced characters on The Family Guy, The Practice and so much. With Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, not only is this diva in great company, but perfectly serves what a perseverance warrior looks like on a daily basis proving one is more that what people think you are.