Hot Docs 2025 - Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore Review

At a festival with well over 100 documentaries from many countries and filmmaking styles, it’s not always easy to justify picking a celebrity bio-doc. Their very traditional rise and fall narrative, flooded with irrelevant talking heads are something audiences have come to expect - and these cliches have been endlessly picked at. No reason to fear this outcome with Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. This is one of the most beautiful, authentic, creatively structured films you will see all year - documentary or narrative.

When PBS approached Matlin with the conceit of this project, she had a filmmaker in mind: Shoshanna Stern, longtime close friend and fellow Deaf director/actress. To Matlin’s brilliance, it is hard to imagine what this film would look like from any other filmmaker. The environment that Stern and Matlin create together is so palpable, inviting and genuine. Interviews between them aren’t framed in the most glamorous way. They sit together on a couch in Matlin’s home. Shoshanna on the end, with her legs crossed comfortably, and Matlin - leaning on one armrest with her legs draped over the couch. They are wearing comfortable seeming clothes, and there is no attempt to hide the film equipment behind them and various crew members entering the frame. It’s a small detail, and the immersive nature of the film may not allow you to notice it - but when contemplated, it provides so much atmosphere that’s integral to the film. 

There’s no attempt to wash or sanitize these very vulnerable interviews between two friends - that invite you to listen in on the stories. It adds so much to the authenticity that’s already on the table, and it’s such a welcoming and warm way to be brought into the story of Matlin’s life. Stern, as a deaf filmmaker, is obviously very sensitive to those parts of her story, and the way it’s stylistically woven into the film is awe-inspiring. From very innovative use of closed captions, jumping between colours, fonts, styles and placements to feel as if they’re part of the story, is deeply artful and endlessly creative. The filmmaking team feels no need to fill out segments without sound when Stern and Matlin are signing to each other. It’s wonderful to see these two communicating in an authentic way, rather than what makes sense for a general audience - and it’s limitlessly admirable. The rule-breaking editing does stretch far beyond this - the way the film jumps between archival footage, interviews and even visuals like newspaper clippings and press notes is symphonic and masterful. This is one of the best edited films you’ll see all year.

Beyond the love and passion within the craft of this film, Matlin’s story is deeply captivating for every second it’s being told - which is the beautiful bow that ties this all together. It’s invested in her so far beyond her career and art. Her relationships, her activism and her addiction struggles are covered with a deep sincerity that’s well deserving of praise. But what really makes this as stunning as it is - the against-the-grain structure the film takes on. Matlin’s story doesn’t have a traditional rise and fall. This steady telling of her success - and its willingness to question its value, rather than say every move she made is perfect, in a traditional vanity project way - is what really sets this apart.

There’s so much to be said - but it’s not worth it at the expense of you going through this journey with Matlin and Stern. This is a must see - and one to keep your eye out for next awards season. This is a special one.

Rating: 9/10

Hot Docs 2025 runs until May 4th. Tickets can be purchased at hotdocs.ca. 

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore will have one final Hot Docs screening on Sunday, May 4th at 11:15am at the TIFF Lightbox. (Seriously, you should go!)

The film will have its broadcast premiere as part of PBS’ American Masters later this year.