Talk – May be Short But Leaves a Lasting Impression -

I really enjoyed TALK—it’s a short film that manages to say so much in just two minutes. What starts as a routine repair job quickly turns into a tense and eye-opening moment, revealing the struggles that Deaf individuals face when relying on others to communicate for them.

One thing that really stood out to me was how the film made me realize how vulnerable people with disabilities can be in everyday situations. Watching the repairman’s dismissive attitude and the way negotiations played out, I couldn’t help but think about how often people take advantage of those who can’t always advocate for themselves directly. It was frustrating but also incredibly effective in making me more aware of these dynamics.

Director Jessica Perlman does an incredible job capturing this reality, especially from the perspective of a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). The way she frames the characters—showing the Deaf father as isolated from the conversation while the repairman dominates the space—perfectly mirrors the imbalance of power in the situation. Meanwhile, Aimee, the interpreter, is stuck in the middle, until she finally takes control in a way that changes the entire scene.

Another thing I appreciated was how the film challenges the audience to understand the conversation without fully relying on spoken words. I found myself picking up on facial expressions, gestures, and tone rather than the actual dialogue, which made me experience a bit of what Deaf individuals go through daily.

Knowing that Perlman faced challenges in casting Deaf talent but remains committed to authentic representation makes me respect this project even more. The fact that she’s developing a feature-length version and working on other projects about language accessibility makes me excited to see what she does next.

TALK may be short, but it left a lasting impression on me. It’s thought-provoking, emotional, and an important reminder of how we communicate—and how some people can be unfairly treated simply because they are different. I highly recommend watching it.