Film Title:
Silent Odyssey
The First Feature-Length Documentary Film on Filipino Deaf Culture
Produced and Directed by:
Miranamedina, graFTII
Synopsis:
A journey into the Deaf world—brings out the Filipino Deaf’s sentiments towards the hearing society, chronicles the significant and pioneering efforts of different institutions and personages in Philippine Deaf history and touches on important and current issues on Deaf education. It introduces the word “audism” (Deaf oppression)—a not-yet-so-popularl y used term in the Filipino Deaf community; takes a glimpse at the 15th World Federation of the Deaf Congress in Spain with the theme “Human Rights Through Sign Language” and the celebration of the entry into force in the Philippines of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The film also focuses on some of Deaf achievers who are worthy of emulation by the Filipino Deaf youth and presents the World Federation of Deaf President Markku Jokinen’s views on oralism, use of hearing aids and importance of sign language to the Deaf. Most importantly, the film takes a close look at the Filipino Sign Language (FSL)—its probable origin, uniqueness, present status vis-à-vis other sign systems and its importance as index to the cultural identity of the Filipino Deaf as a cultural-linguistic minority group.
The journey leads to a realization that the Deaf are disabled and impaired by society’s failure to understand and accept their language and culture as an ethnic group, disregarding their cultural needs as Deaf persons by not providing the bridge of communication which aggravates their linguistic isolation. That “Deaf can” is no illusion but a reality which can shame those who think of themselves as superior just because they can hear.
SILENT ODYSSEY documents the journey of filmmaker Miranamedina with Deaf people by bringing to the hearing society the sentiments, history, language and culture of the Filipino Deaf. With the persistence of negative stigma regarding Persons With Disabilities (PWD) and the myth that the Deaf are dumb, the call for an advocacy film for Deaf people becomes more urgent especially now that the Philippines ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities on April 15, 2008.
SILENT ODYSSEY features more than 40 members of the Filipino Deaf community, educators, missionaries and service providers to the Deaf with the special participation of Markku Jokinen, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) President.
A production of Miryad Visyon in cooperation with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Lingap-Pangarap Foundation, Inc.
Details:
Release Date: ---
Running time: 110 minutes,
Ssubtitle: English
Sreening / Festival / Awards:
- Premiere Showing
September 20, 2008, Saturday, 4:00 p.m., UP Film Center Theater
The Premiere Screening of Silent Odyssey is sponsored by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS) and UP Special Education Council.
Proceeds of the film will go to the Deaf Scholarship Fund of DLS-CSB to provide access to tertiary education for more Deaf Filipinos, to Miranamedina’ s next advocacy film on special children and to projects of UP Special Education Council.
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Php 150 (Regular)/Php 100 for students (please present ID)
Trailer:
Review:
“Silent Odyssey captures the cry of the Deaf soul through an intricate tapestry of image, sound and color – indeed a poetic documentary that only Miranamedina can create.”
PROF. THERESE BUSTOS
Special Education,
University of the Philippines, Diliman
“I have to admit that many issues tackled in the film were new to me. So, in that sense, the film has accomplished its purpose on introducing what is happening in the Deaf community in the Philippines…”
JUNKICHI FUJIOKA
Reporter,
Manila Shimbun
“Silent Odyssey is simply unbelievable in its quality and unmatched expressiveness in outlining the life, struggles of the Deaf and the Deaf history in the Philippines. Mirana Medina's excellent film will capture the hearts of every movie watcher and celebrates the expressiveness of language without a voice.”
RAPHAEL TORRALBA
Journalist, WITHNEWS
“Silent Odyssey shows who Deaf people are and what they want.”
ANA KRISTINA ARCE
President, Benildean Deaf Association
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