My final selection for best musical moments in a 2021 film comes from another movie I’ll be writing about in more detail later this month — CODA, the second feature from writer/director Sian Heder.

CODA is the story of Ruby, a hearing daughter of deaf parents who develops a passion for singing that doesn’t fit her parents’ expectations. It’s an oft-told tale of a young person fighting to forge an identity outside of a constrictive environment, but given a fresh and emotionally resonant twist.

Given that this is a movie about an aspiring singer, CODA has plenty of memorable musical moments. One I considered for this list depicts a school recital through the eyes (and ears) of Ruby’s family, putting us in their position of alienation and confusion.

Another finds Ruby and her father (the amazing Troy Kotsur) sitting together after that concert, when he asks her to sing for him as he places his hands gently around her neck to feel her vocal cords.

But the one that squeezed tears out of my stubbornly dry eyes comes at the film’s climax, when Ruby auditions for a college music program. Her family sneaks into the balcony to watch, and halfway through the performance Ruby starts singing to them.

I’ve watched this moment more than a half dozen times now, either as part of the film or as a standalone clip, and it never fails to choke me up. It’s a testament to Emilia Jones’ masterful performance as Ruby, but also the authenticity of the familial relationship developed over the course of the film.

More to come on CODA, but I encourage you to check it out if you haven’t yet, for this moment and so many others.