Sundance 2025 Review: Deaf President Now! – “Uplifting and enlightening.”
In 1988, students at Gallaudet University had an eight standoff with the board of trustees over the selection of new president who they believed should be a member of the deaf community.
Key figures from the student revolt at Gallaudet University are interviewed separately about their role and perspectives as to what happened before, during and after. Archive footage of the event as well as the backgrounds of the individuals help to put everything in proper context and perspective. With Gallaudet University being the sole post-secondary institution devoted to deaf students it is disheartening to learn the lack of faith the board of trustees had in having a deaf president elected as in essence called into question the effectiveness and purpose of the institution they represented.
The real stars are the students themselves and getting the opportunity to have Bridgette Bourne-Firl, Jerry Covell, Greg Hilbok, and Tim Rarus reflect on what they did to lead the charge for change and watching archive footage of them in action. Filling in the visual gaps are some reenactments that never distract from the moments being talked about and depicted. The only time the filmmakers are present is to ask off-camera questions which leaves the narrative to be told by those actually involved in the incident. By conducting the interviews separately, the participants feel free to express their honest opinions which reveals that the partnership was a marriage of convenience instead of having a great affinity for each other.
By breaking the narrative into the eight days of the revolt one gets a real sense of how the events unfolded with smart and bad decisions made along the way. The biographical flashbacks do not interrupt the pacing as they provide context for the individuals involved as well as the social and domestic life that helped to shape their attitudes and beliefs. This an uplifting and enlightening endeavor that proves that by being proactive change can be brought about and that the differences that separate us are to be embraced and not treated as an ailment.
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival takes place January 23 to February 2, 2025, in person and online, and for more information visit sundance.org.
Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.