Ted Evans’ “ Retreat ” takes place outside society: Its characters, living in a compound called Chilmark, share a deaf identity but refuse to call themselves deaf, declaring that that label was foisted upon them by the hearing. Matt (James Joseph Boyle) has been happy among this group until that classic type, an enigmatic outsider (Anne Zander) forces him to confront what really lies under the surface of Chilmark.

“Retreat” is screening at TIFF starting Sept. 6, and Evans, a debut filmmaker who is deaf and communicates through British Sign Language as well as spoken English, talked with Variety about the film, communication onscreen and opportunities for Deaf actors.

Different nations use different versions of sign language, and I’m curious what having a truly international cast adde

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