Seeing Voices

Austria is one of the few countries that has sign language as one of its official languages. However, in spite of interpreting options, the situation of that nation's deaf community is still not ideal. Deaf politician Helene Jarmer, one of the film's protagonists, is trying to change things. The Hagers, a young deaf couple, reflect on the degree to which impaired hearing will affect the life of their new-born son Emil. Ayse is a young student dealing with her first job. This observational documentary captures fragments from the lives of several deaf individuals, also focusing on the strength and diversity that exists in the parallel world of sign language. (One World)