Synopsis

A soul-searching story about three young friends who have different conditions of deafness.

t first, viewers of The Way We Talk might think there’s an audio issue—but it’s intentional. Director Adam Wong uses muffled and distorted sound to reflect the experience of deaf children in a school where sign language is banned due to oralist policies. The film follows three young deaf people—Wolf, Alan, and Sophie—navigating identity, language, and belonging.

In 2005, best friends Wolf and Alan attend a school that prohibits sign language. Wolf is a strong advocate for it, while Alan, though fitted with a cochlear implant, promises to keep signing. By 2024, they meet Sophie, a recent graduate whose mother discouraged her from learning sign language. She initially supports cochlear implants and calls hearing people “normal,” sparking tension with Wolf. His pride in his Deaf identity inspires her to reconsider.

As Sophie learns to sign, she faces workplace discrimination, being reduced to a symbol of “disability inclusion.” Meanwhile, Wolf pursues scuba diving certification, and Alan warns Sophie not to abandon her speech skills. Wong explores these personal journeys against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s deaf community, balancing emotional depth with moments of levity and poetic visuals.

The film, honored at the Golden Horse Awards and nominated for seven Hong Kong Film Awards, features standout performances by Chung Suet-ying, Neo Yau, and deaf actor Marco Ng. The Way We Talk highlights themes of inclusion, identity, and the value of sign language, inviting reflection on how society views difference.