| Silent Light | |
|---|---|
French theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Carlos Reygadas |
| Produced by | Carlos Reygadas Jaime Romandia |
| Written by | Carlos Reygadas |
| Starring |
Elizabeth Fehr |
| Cinematography | Alexis Zabe |
| Editing by | Natalia López |
| Distributed by | Palisades Tartan |
| Release date(s) | December 7, 2007 January 7, 2009 |
| Running time | 127 min. (Toronto Film Festival) / 142 min. (General release) |
| Country | Mexico France Netherlands Germany |
| Language | Plautdietsch English Spanish French |
Silent Light (Plautdietsch: Stellet Lijcht; Spanish: Luz silenciosa) is a 2007 film written and directed by Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas. Filmed in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, a city in northern Mexico, Silent Light is set in a Mennonite community and tells the story of a married man who falls in love with another woman. The dialogue is in Plautdietsch, the language of the Flemish Mennonites.
Martin Scorsese called the film "A surprising picture and a very moving one as well."[1]
Contents |
Carlos Reygadas’s films are known for their long sequences, slow rhythm, and use of nonprofessional actors. All the performers in Silent Light are Mennonites from communities in Mexico, Germany and Canada. The film was an international co-production by companies from Mexico, France and the Netherlands.
The film received a positive response from many critics. The Time magazine reviewer wrote that "All the scenes shine with a visual and emotional brilliance". Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called the film "an apparently simple story about forgiving" in which "the images are of extraordinary beauty", and said that "The characters seem to be illuminated from the inside." The reviewer of Le Monde wrote that "Reygadas’s genius makes every moment sacred." The magazine Sight & Sound rated it number 6 on their list of the top films of 2007.
Roger Ebert recently named the film one of the best of the 2000s.
The film appeared on several critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2008.[2]
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Red Road |
Jury Prize, Cannes 2007 tied with Persepolis |
Succeeded by Il Divo |
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