“Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” — A Triumph of Representation and Resilience
The new documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, directed by Shoshannah Stern, is a powerful and poignant reflection on the life, career, and cultural impact of Marlee Matlin, the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. Premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and hitting theaters on June 20 in New York (via Kino Lorber), the film offers both historical insight and personal revelation in equal measure.
From Breakthrough to Backlash
When Matlin burst onto the scene in 1986 with her award-winning performance in Children of a Lesser God, she was instantly subject to reductive questions: What can a deaf actress do besides play deaf roles? Rather than becoming bitter, Matlin responded with grace and perseverance, a tone that defines the entire documentary.
Through a blend of archival footage, candid interviews, and intimate conversations, Not Alone Anymore traces her journey from that early skepticism to her status as a barrier-breaking figure in Hollywood. Rather than indulge in bitterness, the film — and Matlin herself — choose reflection, growth, and gratitude.
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A Story Told Through Accessibility and Authenticity
Director Shoshannah Stern, herself a deaf actress, ensures accessibility is at the forefront. The film features a blend of American Sign Language (ASL), captions, and voice translations, honoring the diverse ways people communicate. This thoughtful structure reflects the documentary’s underlying message: Access matters — and so does the freedom to tell your own story in your own language.
Whether it’s through scenes of Stern and Matlin signing together with expressive emotion, or stories from Matlin’s family and collaborators, the film feels grounded in community and sincerity. Appearances from Henry Winkler, Aaron Sorkin, Troy Kotsur, and longtime interpreter Jack Jason further enrich the narrative.
More Than an Icon
What makes Not Alone Anymore so compelling isn’t just Matlin’s career milestones, like her advocacy for closed captioning or her role in the Deaf President Now! movement — it’s the vulnerability and agency with which she revisits her story. From her painful relationship with co-star William Hurt to her joyful reunion with the 2022 Oscar-winning CODA, the documentary balances sorrow and celebration.
While the film doesn’t delve into every aspect of her personal life (her relationship with her hearing family, for example, remains lightly touched), the choice to prioritize self-defined storytelling feels earned.
A Timely Reminder of Why Representation Matters
The documentary’s title, Not Alone Anymore, resonates especially during the film’s bookended scenes at the 2022 Academy Awards, where CODA — a landmark film starring an ensemble of deaf actors — won Best Picture. It’s a full-circle moment, not only for Matlin’s career but for the industry’s evolving recognition of deaf talent and stories.
Final Verdict
Grade: B+
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore is a moving tribute to one of Hollywood’s most resilient and revolutionary figures. More than a biography, it’s a celebration of inclusion, access, and autonomy — and a masterclass in how to tell one’s story on their own terms.
