{{short description|2017 superhero film by Emilio Insolera - deaf film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes | image = "Sign Gene" poster.png | alt = | caption = Teaser poster | director = Emilio Insolera | producer = {{plainlist| * Emilio Insolera * Ben Bahan * Dirksen Bauman * Alberto Abruzzese }} | writer = Emilio Insolera | starring = {{plainlist| * Emilio Insolera * Carola Insolera * Ben Bahan * Hiroshi Vava * Humberto Insolera * Noboru Kuragawa }} | studio = Pluin Productions | released = {{Film date|2017|9|8|Milan|2017|9|14|Italy|2018|4|13|US|2018|9|14|Japan}} | runtime = 70 minutes | country = {{Plain list| * Italy<ref name="NHK Japanese TV Channel">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/heart-net/rounan/backnumber/2009/05/0503.html|title=制作進むろう者の国際共同制作映画 「Sign Gene」｜ろうを生きる難聴を生きる|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="NHK Timetable">{{cite web|url=http://timetable.yanbe.net/pdv.cgi?d=20090816&p=41&v=1&c=103162474200908161930|title=番組詳細 ＮＨＫ教育３・佐賀 ろうを生きる 難聴を生きる「進むろう者の映画国際共同制作」＜字幕スーパー＞ （2009/08/16 19:30 ～ 2009/08/16 19:45）|publisher=}}</ref> * United States<ref name="NHK Japanese TV Channel" /><ref name="NHK Timetable" /> }} | language = {{Plain list| * English * Japanese * Italian * American Sign Language * Japanese Sign Language * Italian Sign Language}} | budget = €25,000<ref name="budget imdb">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4715060/business?ref_=tt_dt_bus%7Caccessdate=2017-03-21|title=Sign Gene|date=1 January 2000|publisher=|via=IMDb}}</ref> }}
'''''Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes''''' is a 2017 superhero film written, produced, directed and starred by Emilio Insolera. The story revolves around a deaf agent, Tom Clerc (played by Insolera), from New York City who is a carrier of a powerful genetic mutation. He is sent to Japan with his colleague, Ken Wong, to investigate crimes believed to have been committed by Japanese deaf mutants.<ref name="backstage interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Claf_2B2lJc|title='Sign Gene' Emilio Insolera Interview|last=Backstage|date=5 May 2009|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> The film's characters, both villains and agents, use sign language as their superhuman powers. The film also stars Carola Insolera, Ben Bahan, Hiroshi Vava, Humberto Insolera and Noboru Kuragawa.
The film makes several references to deaf history, culture, and sign language linguistics. Six languages are spoken and signed in the film: English, Japanese, Italian, American Sign Language, Japanese Sign Language and Italian Sign Language.
==Premise== Sign Gene is a genetic mutation present in only 29 out of the 300 genes responsible for causing deafness. All deaf mutants who are carriers of this genetic mutation turn out to be superheroes with the ability to create superpowers through the use of sign language. They are blessed with arcane powers such as being able to make doors close by signing the word 'close', or having their hands metamorphose into weapons which can spew fire by signing the word 'weapon'.<ref name="father of sign gene">{{cite web|url=http://tokyojournal.com/component/k2/item/743-issue-267-summer-2009-father-of-sign-gene|title=Father of Sign Gene|last=TJ|accessdate=21 March 2017|publisher=Tokyo Journal|date=24 October 2015|language=English}}</ref>
==Plot== Tom Clerc is a deaf secret agent who comes from a multi-generational deaf family. He is a descendant of Laurent Clerc, considered the Father of the Deaf in America. In the film, Laurent Clerc brought sign language to the United States two centuries earlier. Tom is a carrier of SGx29, the powerful Sign Gene mutation. However, he lost a significant portion of his powers during a battle with Jux Clerc, Tom's brother and the leader of the group 1.8.8.0., an evil organization dedicated to exterminating Sign Gene mutants.
Hugh Denison is the head of the Q.I.A. (QuinPar Intelligence Agency), an agency affiliated with the Pentagon and composed of selected agents with the Sign Gene mutation. Hugh sends Tom and his colleague, Ken Wong, to Osaka, Japan. The pair end up fighting a Japanese gang led by Tatsumi Fuwa. During their encounters with the gang, Ken and Tom learn that they can only win the conflict by conforming to the Japanese way. Along with his journey, Tom learns that his powers are not lost.<ref name="oggi7">{{cite web|url=http://www.oggi7.info/node/2327/print|title=CINEMA/PERSONAGGI/Ciak, si gira con la lingua dei segni|date=3 July 2025 |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.west-info.eu/it/007-in-missione-con-la-lingua-dei-segni-in-quattro-nazioni/|title=007 in missione con la lingua dei segni in quattro nazioni|first=West - quotidiano sulle politiche|last=sociali|work=West |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abbanews.eu/gusti-e-cultura/8981/|title=Sign Gene. La prima generazione di supereroi sordi - Abbanews|date=23 March 2017|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cinecitta.com/IT/it-it/news/53/69432/arriva-sign-gene-il-primo-film-con-super-eroi-sordi.aspx|title=Il primo film con super-eroi sordi nel circuito UCI|last=SemiColonWeb|website=news.cinecitta.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjweU2jCKfw|title='Sign Gene' Susan Mather Interview|last=Backstage|date=8 May 2009|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref>
== Cast == * Emilio Insolera as Tom Clerc, mutant with superhuman powers, descendant of Laurent Clerc. * Carola Insolera as Kate Massieu, descendant of Jean Massieu, pioneering deaf educator. * Ben Bahan as Hugh Denison, head of the QuinPar Intelligence Agency and descendant of James Denison. * Humberto Insolera as Jux Clerc, Tom's brother and the face of the 1.8.8.0. (International Genetic Genealogy Organization). The name of the organization makes reference to the Milan Conference in 1880. * Hiroshi Vava as Tatsumi Fuwa, boss of a Japanese gang. * Danny Gong as Ken Wong, Tom's colleague at the QuinPar Intelligence Agency. * Noboru Kurakawa as Tatsumi Fuwa's personal bodyguard
==Production== ===Development=== ''Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes'' was shot in Japan, the United States, and Italy. Originally starting out as a short film, it garnered a groundswell of interest which led Insolera to believe the film had a chance of a larger production and attracting a bigger audience. He rewrote the script into a feature-length film.<ref name="kansai scene">{{cite web|url=https://www.kansaiscene.com/2009/12/emilio-insolera/|title=Emilio Insolera|date=1 December 2009|publisher=}}</ref> Casting opportunities were advertised by of word of mouth. Insolera was especially interested in actors who were native signers fluent in sign language.<ref name="father of sign gene" /><ref name="cinecittà news">{{cite web|url=http://news.cinecitta.com/IT/it-it/news/53/42467/15-24-sign-gene-un-film-tutto-da-guardare.aspx|title=15:24 - "Sign Gene", un film tutto da guardare|date=November 2009 |publisher=}}</ref>
===Historical, cultural and linguistic references=== ''Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes'' makes several coded references to deaf history, deaf culture, and sign language linguistics. Q.I.A. stands for QuinPar Intelligence Agency, and QuinPar refers to the five parameters, the phonological components in sign language linguistics that form signs: handshape, movement, location, orientation, and non-manual signals. Agent Tom Clerc shares the surname of a famous figure in deaf history, Laurent Clerc, a deaf educator who brought sign language to the U.S., and 1.8.8.0. is a reference to the Second International Congress on Deaf Education, which took place in Milan, Italy, in 1880. It was there that educators codified their recommendation to eliminate sign language from deaf education.<ref name="Pacific Standard">{{Cite web |url=https://psmag.com/social-justice/sign-language-is-a-superpower |title=When Sign Language Is a Superpower |website=psmag.com |date=10 April 2018 |access-date=17 September 2018}}</ref> Figures such as Alexander Graham Bell and Jean Massieu are present in the film as well.<ref name="LATimes">{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-sign-gene-review-20180412-story.html |title=Inventive 'Sign Gene' chronicles derring-do of first deaf superheroes |website=Los Angeles Times |date=12 April 2018 |access-date=17 September 2018}}</ref>
The film's plot pays homage to James Bond and ''Grindhouse''.<ref name="The Games Machine">{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamesmachine.it/cinema-e-serie-tv/73937/sign-gene-supereroi-sordi/|title=Sign Gene è il nuovo film di supereroi sordi|last=The Games Machine|accessdate=20 August 2017|publisher=The Games Machine|date=27 March 2017|language=Italian}}</ref>
==Release== The film had its world premiere on September 8, 2017, in Milan and was released in theaters by the UCI Cinemas on September 14, 2017.<ref name="A">{{cite web|url=http://www.advertiser.it/2017072165403/media/film-sign-gene|title=A Settembre nelle sale "Sign Gene" un film diretto e ideato da Emilio Insolera|work=Advertiser Communication Strategies |publisher=|date=21 July 2017|language=Italian}}</ref><ref name="UCI Cinemas|Sign Gene">{{cite web|title= UCI Cinemas - Sign Gene|url=https://www.ucicinemas.it/film/2017/sign-gene/|website=UCI Cinemas|accessdate=27 August 2017|language=Italian}}</ref><ref name="Sign Gene UCI">{{cite web|title= UCI Cinemas Sign Gene|url=http://www.advertiser.it/2017072165403/media/film-sign-gene/|website=Ad|date=21 July 2017 |accessdate=27 August 2017|language=Italian}}</ref> It had its U.S. release on April 13, 2018<ref name="Los Angeles Times movie openings">{{cite web|author=Crust, Kevin|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-list-0408-movie-openings-20180330-story.html|title=L.A. movie openings, April 13|work=Los Angeles Times|date=8 April 2018|language=English}}</ref> and release in Japan on September 14, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kuramoto, Takuya|url=https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0103490|title=ろう者のスーパーヒーロー映画、監督が手話で作品解説！|publisher=Cinema Today|date=19 September 2018|language=Japanese}}</ref>
===Critical response=== ''Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes'' received positive reviews from critics. Michael Rechtshaffen of the ''Los Angeles Times'', described the movie as one with a, "fresh, unique filmmaking voice" and a "fast-paced potpourri of stock footage combined with sign-language and stroboscopic action sequences performed by a deaf cast, video effects simulating grainy, scratchy film stock and that aforementioned all-enveloping sound mix, with an end result that proves as wildly inventive as it is empowering."<ref name="LATimes"/> The Italian newspaper, ''Avvenire'', declared the film will mostly likely please the younger generation, who are "accustomed to the rapid and psychedelic language of Japanese video games or cartoons".<ref name="Avvenire">{{cite web|url=https://www.avvenire.it/agora/pagine/sordo|title=Quando il super eroe è sordo|publisher=Avvenire|date=10 September 2017|language=Italian}}</ref> Writing for ASVOFF, Giorgia Cantarini said that the story is intricate and "very fascinating. The sounds create an unexpected important part, sometimes overwhelming [to anyone] who is watching. [It] all happens very fast and astonishes you with a vibrant energy."<ref name="ASVOFF">{{cite web|url=http://ashadedviewonfashion.com/2017/09/10/sign-gene-by-emilio-insolera-arrives-at-cinema/|title=Sign Gene by Emilio Insolera arrives at cinema|publisher=ASVOFF|date=10 September 2017|language=English}}</ref> Michela Trigari of ''Corriere della Sera'', called ''Sign Gene'' an "experimental film" that uses science fiction as a medium to capture the imagination and "make visible what is invisible to the eyes."<ref name="Corriere della Sera">{{cite web|last=Trigari|first=Michela|url=http://www.corriere.it/salute/disabilita/17_settembre_12/sign-gene-cinema-arrivano-supereroi-sordi-mutanti-92d2f6a2-97cb-11e7-8ca4-27e7bbee7bdd.shtml|title=Sign Gene è il nuovo film di supereroi sordi|publisher=Corriere della Sera|date=12 September 2017|language=Italian}}</ref>
Emilio Insolera appeared on the cover of Tokyo Weekender’s November 2018 issue taken by worldwide known photographer Leslie Kee<ref name="Insolera Cover on TW">{{cite web|author=Hernon, Matthew|url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2018/11/sign-gene-emilio-insolera-on-creating-the-worlds-first-deaf-superhero-film/|title="Sign Gene": Emilio Insolera on Creating the World's First Deaf Superhero Film|publisher=Tokyo Weekender|date=1 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="TW Cover">{{cite web |url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/weekender-archives/ |title=Weekender Archives :: Tokyo Weekender |website=www.tokyoweekender.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113164534/http://www.tokyoweekender.com/weekender-archives |archive-date=2011-11-13}}</ref> and in thirteen full pages fashion story on Vanity Fair Italia's January 2019 number 5 with Carola Insolera taken by Rosi Di Stefano.<ref name="Vanity Fair Italia">{{cite web|last1=Pernet|first1=Diane|title=Emilio & Carola Insolera will be featured in Vanity Fair Italy on January 30 |url=https://ashadedviewonfashion.com/2019/01/29/emilio-insolera-and-carola-insolera-in-vanity-fair-italy-photographed-by-leslie-kee/|website=Asvoff|date=29 January 2019 |accessdate=31 January 2019}}</ref>
==See also== *List of films featuring the deaf and hard of hearing
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.signgene.com/}} * {{IMDb title|4715060|Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|sign_gene}}
Category:2017 films Category:2010s superhero films Category:American superhero films Category:2017 science fiction action films Category:2017 fantasy films Category:2017 Japanese-language films Category:American Sign Language films Category:Japanese Sign Language films Category:Italian Sign Language films Category:Italian superhero films Category:2017 Italian-language films Category:Italian coming-of-age films Category:Italian science fiction action films Category:Films shot in Japan Category:Films set in Osaka Category:Films set in Tokyo Category:Films set in New York City Category:Films set in Rome Category:Films about deaf people Category:Italian science fiction adventure films Category:Italian-language American films Category:Japan in non-Japanese culture Category:2017 English-language films Category:2017 American films Category:English-language science fiction action films Category:English-language fantasy films Category:Japanese-language American films