By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.8 cats
Director: Davis Guggenheim | Nyle DiMarco
Year: 2025
Running time: 100
Chris says: “I knew nothing about Gallaudet University, a liberal arts college in Washington DC for the deaf and hard of hearing; nor was I familiar with the 1988 eight-day, student-led protest against the appointment of a non-deaf president instead of two other deaf candidates. Going in cold to a story like this is obviously the most effective way to experience it but the retelling of this incident is so well-crafted that it has that rare potential to enlighten possibly even those who lived it first-hand.
“Co-directed by model/activist Nyle DiMarco, who is deaf and David Guggenheim (WAITING FOR SUPERMAN), who is not, DEAF PRESIDENT NOW! similarly feels like a bridge made to represent the deaf community and educate everyone else. While the filmmakers are privy to and make good use of an excess of archival footage of the protest (which occurred at a time when camcorders made such widespread documentation possible), it’s the modern-day interviews with the four student protest leaders that add context and resonance. Some may question the addition of voiceovers accompanying the subjects’ signing to the camera when subtitles are also present for a non-signing audience but as a concession to making a more accessible film for that very audience, it’s not a distraction; neither is the elaborate put-a-hearing-person-in-a-deaf-person’s-ears sound design. More important is how the film details this community coming together, especially viewed at an age far removed from an era in which said community was perceived much differently and often detrimentally from the outside.
“This is the rare feel-good documentary that’s genuinely inspiring without coming off as cloying while also being informative and entertaining. I don’t often give films 5 cats but by successfully achieving what it sets out to do and also through the sheer goodwill it exudes, this one earns it.
“(IFF Boston 2025 film #6: will stream on Apple TV+ beginning May 16.)”
Aaron responds: “Totally agree, Chris! My favorite of the fest and an easy 5-cat decision!”
Vicki responds: “Great review! It was one of my favorites too!”
Julie B. says: “DEAF PRESIDENT NOW! My favorite film of the festival! I had no idea about this 1988 protest at Gallaudet University, nor about the existence of Gallaudet University itself ( a University exclusively for the deaf). The story is about an 8 day protest when a hearing president is elected after running against two well qualified deaf candidates.
“What I loved about this film is that it allowed hearing people to experience the non-hearing world. The film allowed hearing people to “listen” to the interviews from deaf signing individuals and truly experience the 4 very different and unique personalities of the main characters in the story both then and now with the combination of subtitles, visuals of them signing, their ways of physically expressing themselves and other verbal communications. The funny thing is I had to go back and watch a review to see that yes, as Chris mentioned there are voice overs as well, but not always. What these people are saying comes through loud and clear with out them. Each in their unique way. The voice overs does make the film more accessible to all.
“We miss that in real life, if we can’t read the sign language and have no interpreter. In addition the use of sound and sometimes abrupt silence really made an impact, sometimes suddenly replicating what that deaf experience. I have to give a 10 / 10 for editing. I laughed so many times (which I did not expect to do when I went into this) and I cried as well, tears of happiness but also great empathy, in succession based upon the editing. I won’t say more there so as not to spoil. No hesitation on the 5 cats rating for me either. It is well deserved. (I just read Chris’s excellent review but had this review done just needing a once over).
“Seen at the IFFBoston Brattle Theatre April 29 100 Minute Running time”
Val says: “I had specific hopes about this film when I went into it. I went to school at RIT, which shares a campus with the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, one of the only Deaf universities in the country. Gallaudet, of course, being the more famous institute, many of my Deaf friends had close ties to it, whether it be the alma matter of family members and friends. And EVERYONE there knows about the 1988 protests. So having some familiarity with Deaf art, culture, and their historical struggle, and reading nothing about this film ahead of time, I had expectations that this film might be something made by the Deaf for the Deaf, and was looking forward to feeling like more of an outsider at this screening. It was clear within the first few minutes that it was actually made more for me, the hearing person, than I expected. I have to admit I was disappointed. Wasn’t the whole message of this film that the Deaf have the ability to speak for themselves? Write their own stories? Why were the Deaf subjects being interviewed in a room full of hearing people, communicating through an interpreter? Why did the sound design so clearly favor a hearing audience?
“The storytelling is direct and efficient, with thoughtful sound design that helps hearing audiences experience part of the Deaf world without feeling gimmicky. Seeing it with a largely Deaf audience added an emotional charge; you could feel when moments landed. I cried more than once. A powerful story of collective action. 4 cats“