Breaking the Sound Barrier (2021), film still

Breaking the Sound Barrier

About this Short Film

Beyond Content’s Breaking the Sound Barrier (Australia, 2021) offers a powerful, empathetic look at themes of achievement, inclusion and employment for adults with sensory disability. The film addresses Deaf experience, stigma, prejudice and common stereotypes, and highlights motivation and individual determination. Elements connected to work and trucks appear, inviting reflection on accessibility and opportunity in everyday jobs. Presented in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival, it sits comfortably among films that celebrate ability and practical change rather than pity. This short is for audiences interested in honest, human stories about overcoming barriers and reshaping expectations in workplaces and communities.

Film Details

Country: Australia
Genre: Personal Story
Festival Year: 2021
Filmmaker: Beyond Content

Film Transcript

I flew to Brisbane and interviewed Candace and absolutely just adored her. I thought we've got to get this girl back over west and into road trains, and that's where the relationship started. I had some reservations about how we were going to work this out, but ultimately we're women and we work things out. Driving trucks is 99 visual. Two‑way radio communication in a heavy vehicle we could certainly get around that. A lot of the stuff that's on the truck radio is — I didn't have any issues with Candace doing her job as a truck driver because we were organised.

Some of the things that I have seen Candice try to have to do with it in the industry would break your heart. Candace has had to learn resilience far beyond what any normal person would have to have developed, but that's not to say that she doesn't get hurt at the way that she's treated — ostracised, vilified. Childhood was incredibly challenging; her parents were really absent. As a tiny little three‑year‑old girl she was put in a boarding school and left there. In those days, I guess a lot of these boarding schools were quite severe: it was more about discipline rather than love, and as a little girl Candace was made to look after other children with profound disabilities — their toileting, that kind of thing. These things have all worked together to make her the person that she is today, an incredibly strong, staunchly independent young woman.

It's time for the industry to start looking at Candace as the skilled and competent professional heavy vehicle driver that she is, to put those strategies in place to support her in the workplace. You'll have one of the best employees that you can find. I just wish that I had half the strength and the capabilities and the resourcefulness that she does. She's a wonderful, wonderful young woman; I just love her to bits.

Filmmaker

Beyond Content is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Beyond Content.

?

18 comments
H
Horst Gluckat 27/08/2021

Hey Candice Normaly it needs a lot to impress me-but YOU and your Story really made me speechless WOW I'm a 59 y.o. Trucker from Germany-allways a little loudbut now...I showed your Video today some other Truckers From now on you have a whole bunch of Fans in Germany Keep on trucking Greetings from Germany Horst Gluckat Scania 770

M
Melanie Knowles 25/08/2021

Dearest Candy. As you mom the hardest part was only seeing you over weekends because your school for the deaf was not close to home. But we did fun things weekends and all the holudays. I am so very proud of you and encourage you all the time. Your video calls photos and messages are my life line. You are my strength. You are my heartbeat. You never gave up. Cause Mom did not give up. Be strong. Be true. Be happy. I pray for you everyday to be safe on the road. I love you so very much and miss you terribly. Very proud of you. God bless until we meet again. Love you forever.

L
Lisa Lisa 24/08/2021

Fantastic to see you have found your passion. Thank you for carting things around Australia for us all xo

J
John Taylor 23/08/2021

I first ran across Candice at a site she reversed straight onto the dock where I had seen other guys knock of the gate posts and get all crossed up. I was already unloading and didn't realise she was deaf when I said a good job she ignored me I thought a bit rude then one of the guys at the job told me she was deaf. I got around in front of her and gave her the thumbs up and then we kind of got in a conversation and I don't do sign language bit we communicated and both had a laugh. She truly is a top operator. Whenever she came into our yard they would say she was here and everyone gave her courtesy and a great operator. This is cool to see she is getting the recognition.

B
Brad Davey 23/08/2021

I used to work with Candice gorgeous but talks too much lol. She does her job and I never had a problem with her. I helped her where I could but she was always appreciative of help. Go Candice.

S
Samantha rossiter 23/08/2021

Hey Candice u are so beautiful woman deaf and nice to meet u and so beautiful drive truck travel world trip road look good job at work and This is such a powerful story about a strong woman who never ever give up her dream being a truck driver and I love this story thanks sammie

R
Roger Wilds 23/08/2021

Very inspiring

D
Don Olds 21/08/2021

I'm proud to part of the deaf community but I'm full hearing. I'm here to help anyway I can. The deaf can do any job with the right accommodations.

T
Theresa Cooper 20/08/2021

This is such a powerful story about a strong-will woman who never ever give up her dream being a truck driver I knew Candice from several years ago and it is wonderful to see the courage and assertiveness from her and to send a message to many to work together and make a difference. Great film

S
Sarah Diebert 20/08/2021

As a deaf woman in Australia I love and am inspired by your strength determination and resilience. I too love road trains

J
Jim Muscarella 20/08/2021

You are such an inspiration Candice With your attitude and drive for success in chasing your dreams you will succeed in anything you put your mind to. With all the extra challenges you faced in life and to succeed in the transport industry you pushed through and are now on the road to accomplish your goals and dreams.I am an ex-owner driver and operated a small family-run transport company. When I was looking to hire new drivers I was always looking for people with traits like yours. I tell you now they were very far and few between. I hope your short film opens people's eyes to see people may have disabilities but that doesn't stop them from performing tasks put in front of them. The transport industry needs a lot more people like you. We also need managers of these large companies to start acknowledging people for their skills and efforts instead of just throwing everyone in the same basket.I appreciate and assure others will as well in you showcasing your story with this short film. It may be a short film for now but you will turn it into a full-length movie one day.Great work Candice.

T
Tim Walsh 20/08/2021

Great to watch . Not all in the industry off trucking are mean. But unfortunately it will take time. Keep up the good work. Kind Regards. Old time owner driver

S
Sonja White 20/08/2021

Candice is one of my dearest best friends. We have our own way of communicating and I tried so hard to get her a job where I once worked. But due to the small minded ungrateful persons that couldn't understand the way of a deaf person Candice didn't get her dream job. I take my hat off to her she's one hell of a woman that has guts. I too have mild hearing loss and know what it's like to be put down for being deaf. Keep up the great work Candice love the movie you did and I'm proud to call you my friend. Love you x

E
Eunice Schmaal 20/08/2021

Deafness is not contagious it is an invisible disability but the individual is completely normal and should be treated as an equal in every professioncareer they choose to take. Go Candice

K
Kim Dennis 20/08/2021

I have known Candice for almost 3 years now. I've seen her go through some really trying times. Her positive attitude is what always pulls her through. She is resilient to any situation. Like Lyndal said she's been in situations that break your heart. Candice is an incredible woman. As a female truck driver myself I really look up to Candice as a strong and powerful individual. She's an amazing friend and loves with 100 of her heart.

K
Kenneth DenElzen 20/08/2021

You are proving that being hearing impaired we have to work harder and better than hearing people on same job as I am also deaf too.

J
Julie Wise 19/08/2021

Absolutely amazing. Overcoming being a woman in the Trucking Industry is a major hurdle to do that and be a Deaf Woman takes so much resilience and Strength Candice is a wonder woman. I thank her very much for her attitude to life and sharing her story with us.

T
Tan Freeman 19/08/2021

Candice you are an inspiration.

❤ Donate