Less than a week after winning Best Picture at the 2022 Oscars, the family dramedy CODA will be re-released in over 600 movie theaters across the country on Friday (April 1).
If you haven’t been lucky enough to see the film yet, CODA tells the story of teenager Ruby Rossi, an aspiring singer (Emilia Jones) and the only member of her family who is not deaf. When her choir teacher (Eugenio Derbez) helps her prepare for an audition that can land her a music scholarship, Ruby is torn between pursuing her dream to sing and leaving her family.
On Sunday (March 27), CODA became the first film released by a streaming platform (AppleTV+) to ever win Oscar’s top prize. It also took home awards for Best Adapted Screenplay for writer and director Sian Heder and one for Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur, who became the first deaf male actor to win an acting Oscar. Kotsur’s co-star Marlee Matlin was the first deaf actor to ever win an Oscar when she won the Best Actress award for the 1986 drama Children of a Lesser God.
Last year, Derbez told Remezcla that he hoped CODA would change the trajectory of his career and allow him to do more dramatic roles.
“I always wanted to be a dramatic actor, but for some reason, I ended up doing comedy,” Derbez said. “In doing this film, especially because it’s a beautiful story, I hope this changes my career. I hope people see me differently because they have been looking at this comedic side only.”
Earlier this year, Derbez joined his CODA castmates on stage at the Screen Actors Guild Awards to pick up his trophy for Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture. He was also present on the Oscar stage when CODA won Best Picture. “Eugenio Derbez, you made us laugh so much,” said co-producer Patrick Wachsberger during his acceptance speech. “You took really great care of the [Rossi] family.”