Children of a Lesser God
A speech teacher falls in love with a deaf woman silent by choice.
Arc Cinema
12:00AM
Free
23 May, 2026
Children of a Lesser God 23 May, 2026
1986 | DCP | USA | D: Randa Haines
Speech teacher James Leeds (William Hurt) arrives at a school for the deaf and hard of hearing where he meets Sarah Norman (Marlee Matlin).
Sarah, once a top student and now the school’s janitor, is fiercely independent and initially rejects James’s interest. She gradually softens to his persistent and genuine advances. As intimacy deepens, questions of power, autonomy and communication surface. The film grounds its romance in ethical tension and allows disagreement and desire to coexist without easy resolution.
Marlee Matlin, who lost her hearing after a childhood fever, won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Sarah.
She is the first deaf performer ever to receive an Oscar.
‘A love story brave enough to let conflict remain unresolved.’ - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Arc Cinema
We are situated in the heart of Canberra on McCoy Circuit, Acton, between the shores of Lake Burley Griffin and the grounds of the Australian National University. Just a 10-minute walk from the city and state bus interchanges.
1 McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT 2601
Film Details
Year
1986
Details
DCP 119 mins M
Director
Randa Haines
Countries
USA