The Silent World of Barry Priori (2022)

Imagine being born profoundly deaf into an Italian migrant family of 10 without any means to communicate with them let alone the ability to hold a simple conversation. The Silent World of Barry Priori, is insightful, funny, and at times heart breaking. Barry takes us on a journey that holds many surprises and revelations into the Deaf world from the 1950's to the present day. Self-authored by Barry Priori, an engaging, charismatic character and highly amusing storyteller, this is an essay style film using a combination of interviews, observational footage and rare unseen archival material. Here we garner many intimate insights into a community steeped in Deaf Pride, Culture and its own unique language. Within the documentary Barry and close friends Deane, Katrina and Donovan recount what it was like growing up and being educated as profoundly deaf children in the hearing world during the 1950s and 1960s where deaf children were sent away to school at two and a half and were made to speak. Their lives as teenagers and adults were profoundly changed by the shift from oralism to the increasing acceptance and teaching of Auslan. Barry, Katrina and Donovan went on to become successful groundbreaking leaders and mentors in the teaching and promotion of Auslan in both the Deaf and hearing communities. Barry's children, Rachel and Michael reveal the unexpected and often funny benefits of growing up as hearing children of deaf parents. Their father Barry's award-winning Adelaide Fringe Festival show, NAUGHTY HANDS is also featured. As a performer Barry, billed as "Adelaide's funniest deaf guy", teaches the audience how to swear, and fall in love, in sign language. The Silent World of Barry Priori aims to demystify what it is to be deaf and presents the world of the Deaf community. Through Barry we come to understand the mechanisms the Deaf community put in place to help them navigate the hearing world. Through Barry we celebrate Deaf culture and gain an understanding of the local and international Deaf communities. As a popular, well-known figure and advocate in the Deaf Community, Barry Priori is perfectly placed to tell a story that is largely under-represented on screen. The Silent World of Barry Priori makes visible the world of the Deaf to the larger community in a documentary that is uplifting, heartfelt and humorous.