Johnny Belinda (1982)

While attempting to set up a communal garden in a poverty stricken rural community, Bill Richmond becomes aware of a mute, disheveled girl named Belinda. Written off as mentally handicapped by the community, including her harsh father, Belinda intrigues Bill. He persists in making contact, discovering that Belinda is in fact deaf. Bill finds that he can communicate with Belinda using sign language, and teaches her to sign.