''Universal Signs'' is a modern American Sign Language (ASL) film from 2008.
Plot
After the death of his fiancée’s daughter while in his care, Andrew (Anthony Natale), a Deaf artist, becomes a prisoner of his own mind. Tormented day and night by memories and
self-blame
Blame is the act of censuring, holding responsible, or making negative statements about an individual or group that their actions or inaction are socially or morally irresponsible, the opposite of praise. When someone is morally responsible for ...
, Andrew falls in a downward spiral of depression and anger that alienates everyone around him. It is only through a serendipitous friendship and new love with Mary (
Sabrina Lloyd
Sabrina Anne Lloyd (born November 20, 1970) is an American retired film and television actress. She is known for portraying Wade Welles in the science fiction series '' Sliders'', Natalie Hurley in the ABC sitcom '' Sports Night'' and Kelly in '' ...
) that Andrew is able to sense the life around him – forgive himself, rediscover his muse, and experience the transformative power of love.
Cast
*
Anthony Natale Anthony Natale is a deaf Canadian-born American actor who has performed in many movies such as ''Jerry Maguire'' and '' Mr. Holland's Opus'' and TV shows like '' Curb Your Enthusiasm'', '' Ellen,'' and as Captain Thom in ''Nancy Drew''. He also port ...
, Andrew
*
Sabrina Lloyd
Sabrina Anne Lloyd (born November 20, 1970) is an American retired film and television actress. She is known for portraying Wade Welles in the science fiction series '' Sliders'', Natalie Hurley in the ABC sitcom '' Sports Night'' and Kelly in '' ...
, Mary
*
Lupe Ontiveros
Guadalupe Ontiveros ( Moreno; September 17, 1942 – July 26, 2012) was an American actress best known for portraying Rosalita in ''The Goonies'', and Yolanda Saldívar in the film ''Selena''. She acted in numerous films and television shows, ...
, Claire
*
Margot Kidder
Margaret Ruth Kidder (October 17, 1948 – May 13, 2018), known professionally as Margot Kidder, was a Canadian-American actress whose career spanned five decades. Her accolades include three Canadian Screen Awards and one Daytime Emmy A ...
, Rose Callahan
*
Robert Picardo
Robert Alphonse Picardo (born October 27, 1953) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the Cowboy in '' Innerspace'', Coach Cutlip on '' The Wonder Years'', Captain Dick Richard on the ABC series ''China Beach'', the Doctor on '' S ...
, Father Joe
*
Aimee Garcia
Aimee Sandimés Garcia López de Ordóñez (born November 28, 1978) is an American actress and writer. She is known for her television roles as Veronica Palmero on the ABC sitcom ''George Lopez'', Yvonne Sanchez on the CBS period drama ''Veg ...
, Trish
*
Robert Hogan, Mr. Callahan
*
Troy Kotsur, Chris
*
Deanne Bray, Natalie
*
Ashlyn Sanchez
Ashlyn Kohl Sanchez (born July 27, 1996) is a former American child actress. Notable roles include ''Crash
Crash or CRASH may refer to:
Common meanings
* Collision, an impact between two or more objects
* Crash (computing), a condition where ...
, Katie
*
Robert DeMayo
Robert DeMayo is a deaf American actor, educator, and ASL translator. He is one of the subjects of '' See What I'm Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary'' (2009) who the New York Times called "staggeringly talented." He has also acted in the ...
, The Peddler
See also
*
List of films featuring the deaf and hard of hearing
There is a body of films that feature the deaf and hard of hearing. The ''Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings and Series'' wrote, "The world of the deaf has received little attention in film. Like blindness... it has been misused as a plot gimmi ...
External links
US on ČSFD.cz*
*
American silent feature films
American drama films
2008 films
American Sign Language films
2008 drama films
2000s American films
Silent American drama films
{{2000s-drama-film-stub