The 41st Sundance Film Festival opened with a standing ovation for Marlee Matlin following the premiere of the documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore at the Eccles Theater in Park City, Utah. The film, directed by Shoshanna Stern, offers a raw and revealing look at Matlin’s life as a trailblazing deaf actor.
The documentary captures Matlin’s personal and professional journey, from her childhood and her family’s response to her deafness at 18 months, to her groundbreaking Oscar win for Children of a Lesser God. It also delves into her challenges within an entertainment industry unequipped to accommodate deaf actors, and her allegedly abusive relationship with the late William Hurt, which he denied.
Matlin’s impact extends beyond acting, including her advocacy for closed captioning and involvement in the historic Gallaudet University “Deaf President Now” protests. The film also highlights her experiences as a reluctant spokesperson for deaf culture and the backlash she faced, such as criticism for speaking at the Oscars a year after her win.
Interwoven with emotional interviews, including contributions from her longtime translator and Happy Days star Henry Winkler, the documentary showcases pivotal moments in Matlin’s life. Winkler, a key supporter, discovered her talent when she was 12 and later offered her refuge during a difficult period in her life.
The film is both closed-captioned and verbally translated, with a unique interview approach where subjects communicated with Stern via earpiece translations. It underscores Matlin’s struggles to land roles outside of those written for deaf actors, as well as her triumphs, such as championing Troy Kotsur’s casting in CODA.
Reflecting on her career and advocacy, Matlin said, “It’s never really the right time [for a documentary]. So, why not?” Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore not only celebrates Matlin’s legacy but also examines the broader strides and ongoing challenges in deaf representation.