Universal Signs (2008)

Director:

Ann Calamia

Writer:

Ann Calamia (writer)

Release Date:

2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Captioned for the hearing

Plot:

After the death of his fiancée's daughter while in his care, a deaf man shuts himself off from the world. Haunted by memories, it is only through new friendship that he can learn to forgive, love, and reconnect. |

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Love | Death | Date | Foreplay

Cast

Anthony Natale	...	Andrew
Sabrina Lloyd	...	Mary
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Claire
Margot Kidder	...	Rose Callahan
Robert Picardo	...	Father Joe
Aimee Garcia	...	Trish
Robert Hogan	...	Mr. Callahan
Troy Kotsur	...	Chris
Deanne Bray	...	Natalie
Ashlyn Sanchez	...	Katie
Robert DeMayo	...	The Peddler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barbara Bradley	...	Sister Margaret
Angus Campbell	...	Sean
Daniella Canterman	...	Carissa
Deanna Canterman	...	Larissa
Katherine Catanakis	...	Office Girl #2
Brian T. Delaney	...	Police Officer
Jared Delaney	...	Delivery Man
Rayna Favinger	...	Woman with baby
Denise A. Logan	...	Twin's Mom
Amanda Lynch	...	Office Girl #1
Helene Masiko-Crews	...	Waitress
Brian Matthews	...	Convenience Store Man
Helene McNutt	...	Convenience Store Woman
David Mulholland	...	Boss
Beau Munoz	...	EMT #2
Enrique Pinerua	...	EMT #1
Thomas Place	...	Security Guard
Pete Postiglione	...	Store Clerk
Kaitlyn Sutton	...	Alter Server
H. Michael Walls	...	Conductor
Susan Wilder	...	Librarian

Country:

USA

Language:

American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Drexel University - 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Universal Signs Productions LLC

Trivia:

Margot Kidder, Robert Hogan and Ashlyn Sanchez learned sign language for their roles.

I really enjoyed the story and the film.

I really enjoyed the story and the film. It was very rich, complex and filled with layers (much like a painting). I really felt like I was part of the journey, and it just reminded me about how real life can be sometimes. The film captured so many of life's subtleties. The cinematography was also very engaging. I was touched by so many different emotions. I saw the film with my mom, and she thought that at one point there was sound during the rain storm. I can't remember if there was sound or if the image of rain and all of the connections actually allowed her to "hear" it even if it was silent. What happened to Andrew could happen to anyone. We all go through life for the first time and things happen that we can't ever explain. How do we go on? How do we have the courage to open our hearts again and again when opening our hearts to others can be so scary? The film really made me think and ask myself a lot of questions. It really opened my mind in so many ways. I was so happy to share that with my mom.