International Cinema: A dash of cultural spice

Sometimes I look at my hands and try to interpret some kind of story. If my hands could speak what would they say?

Several weeks ago I watched this sign language film-Sweet Nothing in My Ear-a story told about hands and through hands.
Here is my critique and things I learned about sign language culture and myself. (I decided to post this entry just like it is as a bunch of my thoughts, unedited for the most part, with additional commentary and alternate words because I feel there are lots of different interpretations and viewpoints to be found as well as directions to be taken):

-I didn't like that the couple was going to separate because they couldn't agree on their son's future (things were resolved in the end)-Personally I hope to love God more than anything else and then my wife. I look forward to being a husband and father.

-I liked that in order to communicate they had to go to the other, get their attention and communicate face-to-face (instead of yelling across the room).

-It is another culture. I felt drawn to it as I saw life through their eyes/ears. I wanted right then to try and sign and communicate in the same way...but I can't. (Same thing happened up in Salt Lake when I was taking a picture for a group whose native language wasn't English. I heard them speaking in their language and in response to their "thank you" I blurted out some gibberish genuinely meaning to say you're welcome. I just wanted to talk to them in their language)

-I don't like how deaf and dumb is (or was) used to describe this condition. Dumb has come to mean lack of intelligence, not knowing what to say vs. keeping silent and not being able to speak. I had to actively erase this connotation from my thoughts. Deaf people may be mute but they are not dumb.

-I learned a couple of cool signs: 1) "sorry"-rubbing your fist across your chest/heart; 2) "best friend"-linking of fore fingers back and forth; 3) I don't know what the word is for this last one but the kid was shaking his open hand in front of his open mouth like he was showing his grill.

-The power in hands to sign and communicate; to feel music, sound, vibration, emotion; to express love and understanding clasped in or gently touching another hand.

-The irony of hands being considered a disability in communicating but at the same time being an instrument to lift and uplift others higher.

-I'm reminded of my short, chubby fingers and my calloused hands that have worked and created and the potential they still have.

I feel resolved to use my hands and to continue to find within them many different stories.