The Hollywood Producers Association on Saturday honored independent film “CODA” as Best Picture of the Year, bolstering its chances at the Oscars.
The awards given by the Producers Guild of America (PGA), made up of some 8,000 professionals who make the rain or shine in Hollywood, are considered a relatively reliable barometer for the Oscars which will be awarded this year on March 27.
Remake of the French film “La Famille Bélier” by Eric Lartigau (2014), “CODA” tells the story of a deaf family in difficulty. Deaf actors play the main roles. Its title is the acronym of “Child of deaf adult” which literally means “hearing child of deaf parents”.
The viewer follows Ruby, a hearing high school student, who juggles her musical ambitions and her family’s dependence on her to communicate with the “hearing” world.
Released on Apple TV+, “CODA”, which won the top prize at the SAG Awards at the end of February, is now well placed to compete with the great favorite “The Power of the Dog” by Jane Campion, produced by Netflix. “I’ve always been drawn to stories full of humanity,” said French producer Philippe Rousselet, co-producer of “CODA,” on receiving the award, “a sign that there is still hope” in the world.
“In music, a coda signifies the end of a movement,” observed Deaf actress Marlee Matlin, who plays Ruby’s mother in “CODA,” adding, “It’s wonderful to see the audience so welcoming our film and it’s wonderful to make history.”
Among other PGA winners, “Encanto” won best animated film producer, bolstering its own chances for the Oscars before voting closes on Tuesday. “Summer of Soul”, musician Questlove’s first film on the “Black Woodstock” Festival which took place in Harlem in 1969, won a new award for best documentary.
On the TV side, HBO’s “Succession” took home the award for Best Drama TV Series. During the evening, Steven Spielberg paid tribute to “(his) brother” George Lucas by presenting the creator of “Star Wars” with a PGA award for his career. Lucas shares this Milestone Award with Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm now owned by Disney.