Ebb and Flow

Rodrigo is a young deaf man living on the outskirts of Recife in Brazil. This short film follows him as he goes about his daily life, without any comment or interviews. Splendid camerawork shows him working at a car dealership where he installs audio equipment. He can't hear anything himself, so he has his own inventive ways to test the equipment. His funds are very limited, and then he discovers that his ex-wife is keeping his disability money for herself. Optimistic despite all the difficulties, Rodrigo manages to hold his own in a hearing world. At home he's a loving father to his daughter, and her grandma sometimes lends a hand. The little girl is entirely adapted to life with her father's limitations. She learns signing from him and occasionally takes advantage of the situation. In a sign language conversation with a friend, Rodrigo boasts about a one-night stand with a beautiful woman. But when he visits his doctor for a routine check-up, we are confronted with the communication barrier that exsits between doctor and patient, highlighting the challenges in making information accessible for people with disablities.