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BATH — Patten Free Library’s Tuesday night film series returns Feb. 6 with a screening of “Children of a Lesser God.”

All eight films chosen for this series were directed by women. Show time is 6:30. Admission and refreshments are free.

“Children of a Lesser God” is a 1986 romantic drama directed by Randa Haines and written by Hesper Anderson and Mark Medoff. An adaptation of Medoff ’s Tony Award–winning stage play of the same name, the film stars Marlee Matlin and William Hurt.

Marking the film debut for deaf actress Matlin, Children of a Lesser God is notable for being the first since the 1926 silent film You’d Be Surprised to feature a deaf actor in a major role.

It received five Academy Award nominations, including Matlin’s win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. Only 21 years old at the time, Matlin was the youngest actress to receive the award in this particular category and remains the only deaf Academy Award recipient in any category. Children of a Lesser God was also the first ever female-helmed film to be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Picture category.



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