"Every family has its own language."
CODA - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
Singing and Ruby's Voice
Ruby's voice symbolizes her individuality, her independence, and the part of her identity that exists outside of her family. It's a powerful, personal form of expression that is hers alone. Metaphorically, her journey to embrace her singing talent represents her larger journey of "finding her voice" and asserting her own path in life.
This is a recurring motif throughout the film, from Ruby singing on the fishing boat in the opening scene to her lessons with Mr. V, her duet with Miles, and her final, powerful audition for Berklee College of Music.
The Ocean and Fishing
The ocean and the family's fishing business represent Ruby's connection to her family, her roots, and her responsibilities. It's the world she has always known and the source of both her security and her feeling of being trapped. It is a demanding, often isolating environment that underscores the family's hard-working nature and their dependence on one another.
Numerous scenes take place on the family's fishing boat or at the docks. The daily pre-dawn routine of fishing establishes the setting and the core conflict of Ruby's life, pulling her away from her musical pursuits and keeping her tied to her family's trade.
Silence
Silence is used cinematically to create empathy and shift perspective. It symbolizes the world her family inhabits and highlights the communication barrier between them and the hearing world. More profoundly, it represents the initial gap in understanding between Ruby and her parents regarding her passion for music.
During Ruby's choir recital, the film's audio cuts out, plunging the audience into silence. We experience the performance from her family's perspective, seeing the reactions of the hearing audience but not hearing the music itself. This powerful creative choice allows the audience to feel the family's loving frustration and their distance from Ruby's experience.
Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides, Now"
The song symbolizes Ruby's maturation and her ability to understand the complexities of her life and her family. The lyrics about seeing clouds and love from "both sides now" directly mirror Ruby's position as a bridge between the Deaf and hearing worlds and her newfound, nuanced perspective on her family's sacrifices and her own desires.
This is the song Ruby sings for her audition at Berklee. As she sings, she begins to sign the lyrics for her family, who have secretly come to watch. It's the climactic moment where she fully integrates both parts of her identity, communicating her passion to her parents in their language for the first time.
Philosophical Questions
Does true family support mean making sacrifices for the collective or encouraging individual fulfillment?
The film grapples with this question through Ruby's dilemma. Initially, the family's survival seems to depend on her sacrificing her dreams. Her parents are reluctant to let her go, seeing her as essential. However, the film ultimately argues for individual fulfillment as the highest form of support. Leo is the first to voice this, insisting that holding Ruby back would be the greater harm. The family's transformation shows them realizing that true support means empowering Ruby to build her own life, even if it requires them to adapt and face new challenges on their own.
How do we bridge cultural and sensory divides to achieve genuine understanding?
"CODA" explores this by showing the limits of simple interpretation. Ruby can translate words, but she cannot translate experiences. The film suggests that genuine understanding requires empathy and a willingness to step outside one's own perspective. The most powerful moments of connection are non-verbal: Frank feeling Ruby's throat as she sings, the family watching the audience's reaction at the concert, and Ruby signing the lyrics of her audition song. These scenes argue that connection is an emotional and intentional act, not just a linguistic one.
To whom does a person's life belong: their family or themselves?
As a CODA, Ruby's life has been intrinsically linked to her family's needs from a young age. The film poses the question of when and how a child's duty to her family ends and her duty to herself begins. The narrative champions the idea of self-actualization. While Ruby initially chooses her family out of love and obligation, her family ultimately releases her from that obligation, affirming that her life and her dreams are her own to pursue. This resolution suggests that while we are shaped by our families, our ultimate path is our own to choose.
Core Meaning
At its core, "CODA" is a profound exploration of identity, communication, and the intricate ties of family. The film's central message revolves around the idea of "finding one's voice," both literally for Ruby as a singer and metaphorically for her entire family as they navigate a world not always designed for them. Director Sian Heder wanted to tell a story that celebrates Deaf culture authentically while exploring the universal themes of a young person's journey to independence. The film poignantly asks what it means to be connected to family and what sacrifices are necessary for individual growth. It suggests that true support within a family means allowing each member to pursue their own dreams, even if it leads them down a different path. It's a message about love's ability to transcend barriers, whether they are physical or cultural.