Sorda

One of my personal favorite European films at the Berlinale 2025 was SORDA (Deaf) by Eva Libertad. Produced by the Spanish Distinto Films, A Contracorriente Films, and Radio Televisión Española among others, locally distributed by A Contracorriente Films, internationally sold by Latido Films, Sorda grabbed its audience from the very first moment till the end without any wasted seconds. It is the story of Ángela and Héctor, a well-off Spanish couple with the protagonist Ángela being hearing impaired. They are expecting a baby together – at last. Héctor is highly motivated to become a father, and so much in love with his concubine. Ángela has her inner struggles for years, maybe for decades: she has been having difficulties connecting to hearing people and unconsciously hopes for a non-hearing baby. In her stress, she is on at the edge of becoming workaholic. The film points out that even in a highly harmonious relationship there might be troubles when the partners do not listen to each other curiously, openly, constantly. There is a culminating and purging debate at the zenith of the film when, to the arguments of the hearing-impaired protagonist who is not fully understood by even her parents, the viewers may encounter numerous challenges from the point of view of her partner: how much sacrifice he has made for the sake of their relationship at the altar of love. He has been neglecting, step by step, his relationship with his aging parents and old friends to please the mother of his child. We, as spectators, we can feel taken along when seeing Héctor struggling to fully support his partner. Without any spoilers, I would conclude that the story, based on the director’s sister’s real life, is intriguing with a cheerful end, the couple’s relationship is illuminated from several angles, the film is brilliantly shot, has a solid atmosphere with some catchy tunes, and finally the main characters play honestly. What could we expect more from a brilliantly made European, full-length feature film?