La Famille Bélier

In the Bélier family, sixteen-year-old Paula is an indispensable interpreter for her deaf parents and brother on a daily basis, especially in the running of the family farm. One day, a music teacher discovers her gift for singing and encourages Paula to audition for the prestigious Maîtrise de Radio France music college in Paris, which will secure her a good career and a college degree. However, this decision would mean leaving her family and taking her first steps towards adulthood.[5]

Louane Emera and Éric Lartigau at a preview event.

• Karin Viard as Gigi Bélier
• François Damiens as Rodolphe Bélier
• Éric Elmosnino as M. Thomasson
• Louane Emera as Paula Bélier
• Roxane Duran as Mathilde
• Ilian Bergala as Gabriel
• Luca Gelberg as Quentin Bélier
• Mar Sodupe as Mlle Dos Santos
• Stéphan Wojtowicz as Lapidus
• Jérôme Kircher as Dr. Pugeot
• Bruno Gomila as Rossigneux
• Clémence Lassalas as Karène

Upon the film's release, The Independent reported the French deaf response, "Some—but not all—activists for the deaf are angry that two well-known actors with perfect hearing were cast to play Paula's parents who are Deaf Sign Language users. They also complain that the deaf characters are the main source of comedy in the film."[6] Rebecca Atkinson, writing an opinion for The Guardian, criticized the premise, "A hearing child grows up in a totally deaf farming family, only to have a talent for singing that her family can't appreciate or access." Atkinson said, "Hearing people's fascination with the relationship between music and deafness just does not resonate with most deaf people." Atkinson also criticized the casting, "The film uses hearing actors to play the roles of deaf characters, the result of which is an embarrassing and crass interpretation of deaf culture and sign language."[7]

• List of films featuring the deaf and hard of hearing

• La Famille Bélier at IMDb