Marlee Matlin has long been considered a pioneer in the film industry. Unsurprisingly, the recently released documentary about her life, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, is another boundary-breaking piece of cinema. Using an innovative and inclusive interview format, filmmaker Shoshannah Stern crafts a spellbinding documentary that throws convention out the window. She proves that sticking to authenticity, both on screen and off, is the key to relatable and fulfilling work. Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, with additional appearances at SXSW and Tribeca.

From Oscar Winner to Trailblazer

Marlee Matlin was 21 years old in 1987 when she made Academy Award history. Winning “Best Actress” for her role in Children of a Lesser God, Matlin became the first deaf actor to receive this distinction. To paint a broader picture, Matlin prevailed in a category with four other legendary talents: Jane Fonda, Sissy Spacek, Kathleen Turner, and Sigourney Weaver. This award catapulted Matlin to superstardom, and as we come to see in the documentary, also brought criticism. We learn about the tumultuous and violent relationship with her older co-star William Hurt, her drug addiction, sexual abuse, and language deprivation, which are all a part of the story that Marlee Matlin vulnerably shares on camera.

Watch the trailer for Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore here.

Reimagining Traditional Documentary Storytelling

Matlin sits one-on-one with director Shoshannah Stern as they discuss, using sign language with closed captions for the hearing audience, the highs and lows of her triumphant and, at times, trying career. The film incorporates American Sign Language in such a powerful and unique way. We are immediately immersed in Matlin’s world, with her charisma and quick wit shining through with gleaming authenticity. In addition to her illustrious career spanning TV (The West Wing) and another Oscar-winning film (CODA), Shoshannah delves deep into Matlin’s diversity activism. We learn that we have Matlin to thank for expanding television inclusivity, specifically through her unwavering championing of closed captions.

Takeaway

Marlee Matlin’s life has been a battle against assumptions and preconceptions. In Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, she uses her platform to inspire, educate, and connect with others on her terms and in her own words.