Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
Glenne Headly: Iris Holland
Photos
Quotes
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Iris Holland : [Iris is translating Cole's signing for Glenn] Why do you assume that John Lennon's death would mean nothing to me? Do you think I'm stupid? I know who John Lennon is.
Glenn Holland : [Glenn turns to Iris] I never said that he...
Iris Holland : [Iris continues translating] I cant read your lips if you don't look at me.
Glenn Holland : [Glenn looks back at Cole] I never said you were stupid
Iris Holland : You must think so. If you think I don't know who The Beatles are or any music at all. You think I don't care about what it is you do or what you love? You're my father. I know what music is. You could help me to know it better, but - no. You care more about teaching other people than you do about me.
Glenn Holland : [Cole makes a final gesture, Iris doesn't translate it] Iris... What does this mean
Iris Holland : That means "asshole".
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[Glenn and Iris are discussing the possibility of sending Cole to a special school]
Glenn Holland : The doctor said that gestures meant...
Iris Holland : It's way more than gestures.
Glenn Holland : That gestures meant that Cole would never learn how to lip read or to talk!
Iris Holland : He can barely talk now, he can't say two or three words!
Glenn Holland : The guy is a specialist, Iris!
Iris Holland : Ohhh, he's a specialist who thinks that deaf people are retarded and he is not retarded, he is...
[Cole is screaming, asking for something and Iris doesn't know what it is]
Iris Holland : Cole!
Glenn Holland : What does he...? Give him what he wants!
Iris Holland : I don't know what he wants, I don't understand what he's trying to say. Don't you get it? You walk to school every day with all these children who are normal. I can't talk to my son! I don't know what he wants or what he thinks or what he feels. I can't tell him that I love him, I can't tell him who I am. I want to talk to my son! I don't care what it costs, I don't care what the stupid doctor says it's right or wrong. I want to talk to my son!
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Iris Holland : Why is everyone else's child more important than yours?
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Iris Holland : When you were in high school, did you ever wonder if your teachers went home and got it on at night?
Glenn Holland : When I was in high school, my teachers were all priests and nuns.
Iris Holland : I had such a crush on Mr. Griffith, he could've taken me home any time.
Glenn Holland : Really?
Iris Holland : Mhm.
Glenn Holland : And who was this Mr. Griffith?
Iris Holland : Oh, he was my music teacher.