Starting his new job as an instructor at a New England school for the deaf, James Leeds meets Sarah Norman, a young deaf woman who works at the school as a member of the custodial staff. In spite of Sarah’s withdrawn emotional state, a romance slowly develops between the pair.
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Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• James Leeds: William Hurt
• Sarah Norman: Marlee Matlin
• Mrs. Norman: Piper Laurie
• Dr. Curtis Franklin: Philip Bosco
• Lydia: Allison Gompf
• Johnny: John F. Cleary
• Glen: Philip Holmes
• Cheryl: Georgia Ann Cline
• Danny: William D. Byrd
• Tony: Frank Carter Jr.
• William: John Limnidis
• Orin: Bob Hiltermann
• Mary Lee Ochs: E. Katherine Kerr
• Alan Jones: John Basinger
• Tom Schuyler: Barry Magnani
• Marian Loesser: Linda Bove
• Martha Franklin: Ann Hanson
• Mr. Harrison: James Carrington
• Glen’s Father: Max M. Brown
• Glen’s Mother: María Cellario
• Glen’s Brother: Jon-Paul Dougherty
• Sarah’s Friend: Linda Swim
• Sarah’s Friend: Lois Clowater
• Waiter: Allan R. Francis
• Cafeteria Cook: Richard Kendall
• Ricky: Christopher Shay
• Woman in Beauty Shop: Laraine Isa
• Woman at Party: Nanci Kendall
• Mother: Marie Brazil
• Child: Charlene Legere
• Announcer: Leigh French
• Announcer: Archie Hahn
• Announcer: Jack Blessing
• Announcer: Nicholas Guest
• Announcer: Gigi Vorgan
• Announcer: Lynne Marie Stewart

Film Crew:

• Editor: Lisa Fruchtman
• Sound Editor: Dody Dorn
• Director of Photography: John Seale
• Original Music Composer: Michael Convertino
• Costume Design: Renée April
• Casting: Gretchen Rennell
• Casting Assistant: Ruth Lambert
• Set Decoration: Rose Marie McSherry
• Assistant Set Decoration: Mark S. Freeborn
• Production Design: Gene Callahan
• Color Timer: Ron Lambert
• Second Unit Director: Patrick J. Palmer
• Director: Randa Haines
• Theatre Play: Mark Medoff
• Producer: Burt Sugarman
• Art Direction: Barbra Matis
• Production Accountant: Leanne Moore
• Second Assistant Director: Kim H. Winther
• First Assistant Director: Jim Kaufman
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Steve Maslow
• Screenplay: Hesper Anderson
• Unit Production Manager: Stéphane Reichel
• Makeup Artist: Ann Brodie
• Sound Editor: Patrick Drummond
• Supervising Sound Editor: Robert Grieve
• Still Photographer: Takashi Seida
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Robert J. Litt
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Elliot Tyson
• Hairstylist: Paul LeBlanc
• Property Master: J. Tracy Budd
• Production Sound Mixer: Richard Lightstone
• Production Coordinator: Valley Via Reseigne
• Script Supervisor: Susanna David
• Costumer: Arthur Rowsell
• Special Effects Coordinator: David Neil Trifunovich
• Foley Editor: Linda Whittlesey
• ADR Editor: George Berndt
• Sound Editor: Dennis Drummond
• Supervising Music Editor: Else Blangsted
• Unit Publicist: Stanley Brossette
• Technical Advisor: Richard Kendall
• Costumer: Fabienne April
• Grip: Ron Renzetti
• Key Grip: Randy Tambling
• Dolly Grip: Robert Daprato
• Assistant Property Master: Daniel R. Bradette
• Location Manager: Michael Jewison
• Associate Producer: Candace Koethe
• Choreographer: Dan Siretta

Movie Reviews:

• Wuchak: ***A school for the deaf on a Maine island with William Hurt and Marlee Matlin***

  A teacher (William Hurt) moves to coastal Maine to work at a school for the deaf on an island where he becomes interested in a striking, but disturbed janitor (Marlee Matlin), who was once a student there.

  “Children of a Lesser God” (1986) is part celestial and mundane; beautiful and profane. Thankfully there’s more beauty. The Northeast coastal locations are wonderful and Hurt makes for a worthy protagonist while expertly pulling off a difficult role. Marlee Matlin is an exquisite revelation without which the movie would’ve failed.

  Everything builds to a stunning dramatic scene in the second half, which is expertly executed. Unfortunately, the couple hooks-up a little prematurely. More time should’ve been spent with the journey to consummation. Nonetheless, there are great moments here.

  The film runs 1 hour, 59 minutes and was shot in New Brunswick, Canada (Rothesay, Saint John & Beaver Harbour).

  GRADE: B