Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements is a deeply personal story spanning three centuries of the deaf experience, told through the eyes of a young deaf boy growing up, his deaf grandfather growing old, and Beethoven when he wrote his iconic sonata. Irene Taylor Brodsky’s 11-year-old son Jonas learns Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, a beautiful and heart-wrenching piece written during the year Beethoven was stricken with his own deafness. The story becomes an intergenerational tale of deafness, as we learn that Jonas’ grandparents were also born deaf and see the special bond they share with each other. With his implants, Jonas can choose when he wishes to not hear and when he wishes to hear, demonstrating how a perceived disability may also be a special ability. This is a powerful film on the power of music, deafness (shown as both a disability and an ability), the blessing of family bonds, and the decisions to be made as a parent and as the child of aging parents.

In attendance: Irene Taylor Brodsky, Director & Producer, Tahria Sheather, Producer, Jonas Brodsky, Sally Taylor, and Paul Taylor – all featured in the film.

This screening wlll be OPEN CAPTIONED (OC) and AUDIO DESCRIBED (AD). An ASL interpreter will be present to interpret both the introduction and post-screening Q&A. Audio description devices may be reserved in advance subject to availability with the purchase of a ticket designed for that purpose on our ticketing site.