Deaf President Now!

2025

Documentary

Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 100% · 43 reviews
IMDb Rating 8.0/10 10 484 484

deaf student protest 1980s american sign language (asl)

Plot summary

Discover the story of the greatest civil rights movement most people have never heard about. During eight tumultuous days in 1988 at the world's only Deaf university, four students must find a way to lead a revolution—and change the course of history.

Director

Davis Guggenheim Photo
Davis Guggenheim

Top cast

Tim Blake Nelson Photo
Tim Blake Nelson as Tim
Paul Adelstein Photo
Paul Adelstein as Jerry
Leland Orser Photo
Leland Orser as Greg
David Michael Lewin Photo
David Michael Lewin as Custodian
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 2160p.WEB.x265
917.97 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  ar  bg  cz  dk  de  gr  es  et  fi  fr  il  in  hu  id  it  ja  kr  lt  lv  ms  nl  no  pl  pt  ru  sk  sl  sv  ta  te  th  tr  uk  vi  cn  
23.976 fps
1 hr 39 min
Seeds 20
1.84 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  ar  bg  cz  dk  de  gr  es  et  fi  fr  il  in  hu  id  it  ja  kr  lt  lv  ms  nl  no  pl  pt  ru  sk  sl  sv  ta  te  th  tr  uk  vi  cn  
23.976 fps
1 hr 39 min
Seeds 27
4.45 GB
3840*2160
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  ar  bg  cz  dk  de  gr  es  et  fi  fr  il  in  hu  id  it  ja  kr  lt  lv  ms  nl  no  pl  pt  ru  sk  sl  sv  ta  te  th  tr  uk  vi  cn  
23.976 fps
1 hr 39 min
Seeds 20

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by ferguson-6 8 / 10

Deaf Power!

Greetings again from the darkness. It was 1988, and when this group of students proclaimed, "We will be heard!", it took on additional importance. The anger of these students represented 124 years of repression. Student protestors were from Gallaudet University in Washington, D. C. It's the only university for deaf students, and its history dates back to the time of Abraham Lincoln.Oscar winner Davis Guggenheim (AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, 2006) collaborates with deaf actor-turned-filmmaker Nyle DiMarco to bring us the story of how the commitment to cause led the students, the University, and the nation towards real change. Although the film covers just one week, it effectively uses input and recollections from five key players. In other words, we get the 'then' (via archival footage) and the 'now' (modern day interviews).Jerry was clearly the emotional leader ... the guy who fired up the crowd through his passion. His passion shows even today as his memories come flooding back. Greg was the Student Body President, and his more reserved personality likely made him a more acceptable spokesperson. Bridgetta, a former high school cheerleader, used her energy to generate the rhythm of the crowd, while Tim did not hold back in addressing Ms. Spillman, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees ... she doesn't even bother to learn American Sign Language (ASL). Her clueless and obstinate approach to defending the board's decision to bypass two qualified deaf candidates in order to name yet another hearing person as University President comes across as absurd and even a bit cruel.The structure of the film is exceptional, blending the past with the present. Surprisingly, enough archival footage exists (even 37 years later) that we get a real feel for the commitment of the students and the manner in which the protests were carried out. It's especially telling to hear the four demands made by the students: name a deaf President, resignation from the Board by Spillman, transitioning half the Board to half deaf members, and no reprisals for the students. All quite reasonable. With Spillman having stated something along the lines of 'Deaf people are not ready to function in a hearing world", we are provided a blunt testimony to her beliefs and possibly, the general sense of society at that time.I King Jordan, a school professor, is interviewed and explains his unusual trek during the week ... one that ended with his becoming President of the University (a position he held for many years). The film provides us with clips of Greg's key appearance on "Nightline" with Ted Koppel, and a heartbreaking story about "broken ears". Two years after this event, Congress passed the Americans with Disability Act - a stunningly short number of years ago. An odd segment is included with a quick overview of Alexander Graham Bell's desire to "fix the deaf", but we realize it's not the deaf that need fixing. The film leaves us feeling a great deal of respect for these leaders, and might leave you chanting, "Deaf Power!"The film will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Reviewed by dfloro 9 / 10

If you're anti-DEI, please just watch & learn

Reviewed by Bleu-Le-Fluff-0969 8 / 10

Wonderful important moment of history that is long forgotten

Watched at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.The Deaf President Now! Movement has been forgotten and with this new documentary, it is an ambitious and well-intended story that explores the historic moment of the Deaf President Now! Movement with great insightful explorations and some of the best editing and sound designs of recent times for documentaries.Many of the participants and discussions are directly used well, blended with the archival footage, sound designs and inspiring moments that allows the viewers to be drawn into the political dynamics. Getting into the time period and getting into their shoes. You feel for those who are going through that event and observing the politic tension and moments in that time era, you feel a sense of anger, purpose, and the disfunction that the deaf community was going through and how they fought for themselves. Despite having some moments that does feel repetitive with it's length, Directors Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim have successfully discussed a subject that shouldn't be forgotten.
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