I really liked the story. It's both inspiring and beautiful. It makes you realize how challenging it can be for deaf people to cope with society everyday life. The cast is excellent. The voice of the girl is really stunning, so pure, you just stop breathing to focus on that voice. The parents are a bit annoying in their stubbornness but I suppose it's how their role was written.This film reminded me about another (excellent) french movie: 'Intouchables (2011)', also about handicap Vs society. It was also funny and touching.

The story is pretty simple, but that is precisely why it is very impactful. The film does not go into that much detail of how the family grew up, or tell the back story of the parents, but it works because Paula is the driving force of the family. She's the one we should be focusing our attention on. Much like her character is there to support her family, the rest of the cast is pretty much supporting her. The dynamics of this family is very well established, and the chemistry between them superb. You can feel the love they have for each other, and it is precisely because there is less talk that there is more feels. They have to work extra hard to express themselves which made the film refreshing to watch. The entire cast of the family did their parts really well. Elmosnino and Duran as the music teacher and best friend also did well in bringing certain dynamics to the film.The script is well written, and going in, I did not expect the film to be so comedic. The screenplay is not corny or awkward, as some films nowadays tend to be. And because Paula must translate conversations between her family and outsiders this makes for some funny 'lost-in-translation' remarks. While I do like the simplicity of the story, it was also quite predictable. The ending comes as no surprise, but I do not mind that so much because it is how they got there that's important. The singing as well is excellent. Emera, was discovered on the talent show 'The Voice', and her voice is absolutely beautiful.

This film is about an ordinary family – mum, dad, daughter and son, doing ordinary things, like running their dairy farm, making and selling cheese, going to school and criticising local politicians. But the critical ingredient is that all but the 16 year old daughter are deaf and cannot speak, but communicate with sign language. And of course when the daughter, who is the family's principal connection to the surrounding world is spotted by her music teacher as a potential for the elite Maitrise de Radio France choir, which would involve living in Paris, all the dilemmas of family, obligation, personal development and escaping a predictable rural life for the bright lights of Paris unfold.It is beautifully acted, stretching from rage at a deaf person's inability to communicate with others, to wonderful sensitivity and empathy. There are some very funny moments, both from the unusual situations the premise enables, but also in the pure physicality of the farm setting and the challenges of moving from childhood to adulthood. The four leads are all terrific, and the limitations of not being able to speak but having the added complexities of signing make for a unique insight into cinematic possibilities. There is quite a bit of musical performance, and while one musical scene seemed overlong, most were well handled and made great contributions to the story and understanding. To me, Louane Emera's singing voice really isn't quite at the level you might expect given its centrality to the plot, but the overall lightness of touch of the whole film makes up for this. There is one really moving scene where the audience is treated to an effect of what one of the deaf people might be experiencing. I found the music teacher convincing, although the result he got from a rural middle high school choir was amazingly good, particularly when you consider he frequently complained there were only two people in the choir who could sing! Paula Bélier being one of them of course. None of the actors was familiar to me, but Louane Emera as Paula won several promising young actor awards, which I feel were deserved. The actors in non speaking roles made the most of the expressions and sign gestures, which must have been the result of enormous lengths, depths and breadth of rehearsal. The cinematography is lovely, ably assisted by gloriously bucolic French countryside and wonderful stone farmhouses and villages.

Don't expect to be blown away by this movie but expect an enjoyable time. Aside from a very TV movie like look and feel, this flick has got all the ingredients to make for a good watch: the main one being the plot. The moment you hear about it, you can't help but feel curious about it. A girl whose parents are deaf discovers that she has a gift of singing…And obviously her parents don't know or could not appreciate it…As yo can suspect, she suddenly finds herself confronting a strange situation where she needs to decide if she is to stay with her family and continue with her school and farm life, or if she should move to Paris instead and pursue a singing career eventually.In the other hand, the acting is not the best if you are a bit picky, but then it's true that playing a deaf person is probably not that easy (the Father is not deaf in real life). Also, some characters are a little too farcical in my opinion. But this movie is not made to be perfect, it's just designed to work well and be enjoyable and that's exactly what you get.I enjoyed it and I am sure you will.