1987’s Crazy Moon, starring a young Kiefer Sutherland and deaf actress Vanessa Vaughn, is a goofy romantic comedy about a very rich young man who falls in love with a deaf girl. This film starts by placing Brooks, Sutherland’s character, at odds with his seemingly troublesome older brother. Their father gives Brooks a new car and heaps of adoration, while the brother is mostly ignored. Through a series of goofy misadventures involving a motorcycle and mannequin Brooks is eventually to win the attention of the cute girl he has seen many times working at the clothes shop he frequents. It isn't until Brooks follows this girl home and meets the deaf friends she lives with that hear learns of her inability to hear. As the couple come to know each other is revealed that Anne, Vaughn’s character, really wants to work on her cued speech skills in order to more easily assimilate with hearing people. Brooks is completely enamored with the unique beautiful girl and takes it upon himself to learn some ASL…show more content… I loved the their choice of using an actual deaf actress in the film and having her develop the skill of speaking through out the film truly illustrated what a struggle it can be for a deaf person to try and integrate into hearing society. The depictions of the now antiquated communication technology was also fascinating. The Use of the TTY really helped me to understand how such a service actually functioned, and still does function. I am honestly surprised that this film isn't more popular in our modern day. It is just as funny as Sixteen Candles and says just as much about what it means to young and fearful. It even has a more progressive and accessible message in its cry for deaf equality, but yet this assignment was the first time I had ever heard of it. I think I am going to bring it back to popularity 30 years after its
