'' DEAF '' : SPANISH FILM'S MANY HONOURS

PICKING UP THE SIGNS : DEAF is a powerful film about the real struggles of deaf families navigating medical institutions and parenthood.

DEAF is a deeply emotional examination of what having a baby can mean for a mixed deaf and hearing couple.

Spanish director Eva Libertad's film explores where access, language and trying to keep a family together under the extreme pressure of new parenthood and social expectations come to a point.

Throughout the film - there is a clear divide in deaf and hearing spaces, and clear differences in how people are treated in each one. A key element of this is the thoughtful effort to facilitate communication by adapting to people's different abilities.

At home, Angela [ played by deaf actor Miriam Garlo ] and her partner Hector [ Alvaro Cervantes ] communicate easily and comfortably in a mixture of sign and speech.

Angela's experience in work is similar. While her work colleagues don't sign fluently, they obviously value her and care about her and put effort into their communication and relationships.

This care is reflected in the baby mobile they give Angela, which has carefully moulded hands in different configurations so that Angela's language is represented in her baby's toys.

Angela is made to feel safe and valued at home and work thanks to the care and respect everyone shows to each other when communicating, whether in speech, sign or a mixture of both.

The same is true of the deaf communities in which she and Hector are involved - Hector is embraced, teased, accepted and treated as an equal. But when their relationship encounters the hearing world, this all changes.

The World Students Society thanks Associate Professor Dai O'Brien of BSL and Deaf Studies at York St John University in the UK.