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A Silence

Play trailer Poster for A Silence 2023 1h 40m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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81% Tomatometer 21 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Having remained silent for 25 years, Astrid, the wife of a prominent lawyer, sees her family's equilibrium shatter when her children initiate their quest for justice.

Critics Reviews

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Stephen Romei The Australian The director and lead actors, two stars of French cinema, build the tension layer by layer with undramatic moments that swell with internal drama. Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 5, 2024 Full Review Namrata Joshi The New Indian Express There is something reptilian and inscrutable that Auteuil invests in his character which works to the film’s advantage. Hearing him impassively acknowledge his wife and son for standing by him sends a chill down the spine. Oct 26, 2023 Full Review Jordan Mintzer Hollywood Reporter A tough if tactful watch. Sep 26, 2023 Full Review Alejandro Lingenti La Nación (Argentina) Lafosse manages to unsettle without resorting to common yellow press tactics. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 4/5 Sep 19, 2024 Full Review Pablo O. Scholz Clarín Movies like A Silence help us reflect on frightening, repugnant events, in which guilt and asking for forgiveness are not always enough to heal the deepest wounds. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 4/4 Sep 19, 2024 Full Review Diego Batlle Otroscines.com Beyond some tense, powerful, and ominous scenes... A Silence is a little more obvious and schematic than Laffose's previous work. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 3/5 Sep 17, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Julia S Without a doubt A Silence is a challenging film to watch. Much of it is shot in the dark. The opening scenes of Astrid, shot in extreme close-up, driving through dark gloomy streets, takes us on a journey into a family she works hard to hold together. Director Joachim Lafosse has brought an important subject matter to the cinema, looking at it from Astrid’s POV. A clever device that drags the audience into the murky depths of child abuse, and the lengths family members will go the hide the truth, not only from each other, but from their community. Such are their secrets they seemingly had no friends call or visit. Had they cut themselves off from everyone from fear of being found out? Having worked in this area and with skin in the game, finding the truth of what really happens is difficult. Lafosse cleverly leads the audience on the individual family members journey as they are questioned by the police, and question each other about what they knew, or didn’t know, when, how, why. He leaves questions unanswered leaving it up to the audience to come to their own conclusions. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/08/24 Full Review Steve P Joachim Lafosse's A Silence is a slow-burning drama about a family where the unspoken hangs heavy in the air, threatening to suffocate its characters. We meet the Schaars—a wealthy couple, Astrid (Emmanuelle Devos) and François (Daniel Auteuil), living a seemingly idyllic life with their adopted son Raphaël (Matthieu Galloux). But cracks soon begin to show, hinting at a dark secret lurking beneath the surface. Lafosse masterfully ratchets up the tension, drip-feeding us information without ever resorting to melodrama. The film feels distinctly European, its focus on domestic turmoil reminiscent of Michael Haneke's work. However, Lafosse injects a dose of emotional vulnerability missing from Haneke's clinical approach. We see the toll the silence takes on Astrid, her facade of composure crumbling as the truth threatens to unravel. Devos delivers a powerhouse performance, her eyes conveying a lifetime of unspoken pain. Auteuil portrays François with a quiet intensity, his character haunted by past choices. Even newcomer Galloux holds his own, capturing the confusion and anger of a teenager grappling with a fractured family. While the acting is superb, the pacing can slow at times. Long, lingering shots showcase the opulent surroundings that feel increasingly like a gilded cage for the characters. The score is sparse, adding to the film's overall sense of unease. The muted color palette reflects the emotional state of the characters, with pops of color only highlighting their isolation. Lafosse utilizes silence to great effect, letting the characters' unspoken words speak volumes. A Silence isn't an easy watch. It tackles complex themes of guilt, forgiveness, and the enduring power of the past. However, its raw portrayal of family dysfunction and the performances of its central trio make it a compelling, if uncomfortable, watch. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller, look elsewhere. But for those who appreciate slow-burn dramas that linger long after watching the movie, A Silence is a haunting and thought-provoking film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/03/24 Full Review Read all reviews
A Silence

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Having remained silent for 25 years, Astrid, the wife of a prominent lawyer, sees her family's equilibrium shatter when her children initiate their quest for justice.
Director
Joachim Lafosse
Producer
Anton Iffland-Stettner, Eva Kuperman, Jani Thiltges, Régine Vial, Alexis Dantec, Antonino Lombardo, Antonio Lombardo
Screenwriter
Joachim Lafosse, Thomas Van Zuylen, Joachim Lafosse, Thomas Van Zuylen, Chloé Duponchelle, Paul Ismaël
Production Co
Prime Time, Stenola Productions, Les Films du Losange, Samsa Film
Genre
Drama
Original Language
French
Runtime
1h 40m