Land Of The Deaf (1991)

3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

If you liked Etre et Avoir...

Richard from Oxford, 6th August, 2005

The director Nicolas Philibert's smash hit (in documentary terms) Etre et Avoir, didn't come out of nowhere: he'd made touching, humane films before and In The Land Of The Deaf is one of the best, (almost) the equal of the more famous film. In fact if you imagined a sign language version of Etre et Avoir, you wouldn't be far off: Again, Philibert's focuses on a group of young children (here learning how to speak and recognise sounds) and on an inspirational teacher (of sign language in this case). The film is mostly in French sign language, but it's such an expressive language that you almost don't need the subtitles (although they're provided as well). It doesn't really tell a story but it's touching, very charming and not at all preachy. I had a big grin on my face for almost the whole 90 minutes.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Not a patch on Etre Et Avoir

A Customer from Ireland, 29th August, 2005

I watched this DVD with great hopes after watching Etre Et Avoir which is directed by the same man, Nicholas Philibert. Personally i thought it wasn't a patch. It seemed to move from groups of adults to adolescents to children with no real purpose. Bits here & bits there, just a total mish-mash. As a result i felt i never got to know anyone. Nor did i find any of the teachers inspirational, patient or loving in the way i did with Etre et Avoir. I only watched to the end because i thought it would get better but it didn't. My opinion is if you want a superb, original, inspirational documentary, rent Etre Et Avoir & don't bother with Land of the Deaf at all.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Not a patch on Etre Et Avoir

Babuska from Omagh, 23rd August, 2005

I watched this DVD with great hopes after watching 'Etre Et Avoir'. Personally I thought it wasn't a patch. It seemed to move from groups of adults to adolescents to children with no real purpose.

As a result I felt I never got to know anyone. Bits here & bits there, just a total mish-mash. Nor did I find any of the teacher’s inspirational, patient or loving in the way I did with 'Etre Et Avoir'. I only watched to the end because I thought it would get better. It didn't. My opinion is if you want a superb, original, inspirational documentary, rent 'Etre Et Avoir'.

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