Greetings again from the darkness. Few things are more disheartening and frustrating than seeing a child neglected by their parents. When that child is deaf or hearing-impaired, the actions of such parents cross over to infuriating. Such is the topic of this gut-wrenching short film from writer Rachel Shenton and director Chris Overton.
While we usually assume parents are focused on the best interests of the child, this expertly crafted film shows us just how easy it is for everyday life to impact our best intentions. Four year old Libby (Maisie Sly) is the youngest child in a typically busy home. Work, school and activities keep the others swarming around her - leaving young Libby in an isolated state of confusion. Libby is profoundly deaf, unable to communicate with her family, and rarely even interacts. Her mother (played by Rachel Fielding) is the on-the-go type who wants her daughter to be normal, and absent-mindedly yells "Bye Libby" as she heads out for her next errand.
When social worker/tutor Joanne (writer Shenton) is hired to prepare Libby for school, it isn't long before the two are conversing through sign-language and young Libby comes alive ... playing in the park and asking for orange juice. It's a beautiful thing to watch unfold.
Early on, the film addresses that Libby "does not qualify" for a cochlear implant, which apparently was the last bit of effort her mother expended in trying to make her "normal". The film is beautifully shot and carries the strong message that with a bit of support, deaf children can be mainstreamed into schools - though I do wish some more attention had been given to cochlear implants. Ending with a couple of sobering statistics, it's refreshing to know that Ms. Shenton is an activist supporting the deaf community.
