The Silent Forest

Wusheng
dir. Ko Chen-nien
Taiwan 2020, 103’
subtitles: Polish and English

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Polish premiere
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Theatrical Screenings
St 20 Nov, 10:15
Kinoteka 2
Kinoteka 2
Su 21 Nov, 15:30
Kinoteka 2
Kinoteka 2
Online Availability
17 Nov, 10:00 – 29 Nov
Additional Materials
Awards and festivals
World premiere: Taipei Film Festival Golden Horse FF 2020 - Best New Performer, Best Sound Effects Taipei FF 2021 - Audience Choice Award, Best New Talent, Best Sound Design Asian Film Awards 2021 - Best Supporting Actor, Nominee for Best Newcomer
Credits
Taiwan 2020
Duration: 103’
director: Ko Chen-nien
screenplay: Ko Chen-nien, Lin Pin-jun
cinematography: Chen Chi-wen
editing: Milk Su, Chen Chun-hung
music: Lu Luming
cast: Troy Liu, Chen Yan-fei, Kim Hyunbin, Liu Kuan-ting, Yang Kuei-mei, Cheung Ka-nin, Chang Pen-yu
producer: Uilin Wang
executive producer: Yu Pei-hua, Arthur Chu
production: MandarinVision Co., Ltd.
language: Mandarin, Hokkien, Taiwanese Sign Language
colouration: colour
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Film description

Chang Cheng is a deaf teenager, apprehensive about starting a new school for the youth just like him. But the first impression turns out to be very positive, he finally feels safe among his peers. On top of that, the boy's attention is snatched by a fellow student, Beibei, who seems to be interested in him too. But it soon turns out that the school is ruled by a complex system of harassment of younger kids by older students, which the adults have been ignoring for years. Nothing here is simple, including the reaction of the victims, so how can this rigid circle of silence and abuse be broken?

The film, based on a true story, caused a shock and a national debate in Taiwan, and received eight nominations for the most important local prizes – the Golden Horse Awards. And deservedly so. The shocking subject was put into an amazing form, creating a literal, yet non-exploitative story. A special mention goes to the soundtrack, showing the world of people using sign language, unable to express their fear through screaming.

Interventionist cinema rarely goes beyond its immediate role. "Silent Forest" is an exception. Ko Chen-nien focuses not only on the reconstruction of the shocking events, but also on showing universal mechanisms of the rise and rule of evil, and of the traumas it leads to.

text:
Marcin Krasnowolski

Ko Chen-nien

Taiwanese director and screenwriter. Her first short film "Horse with No Name," devoted to the subject of school violence, received a Golden Horse Award nomination in 2011. "Silent Forest" is her feature debut.

Filmography:

2010 Horse with No Name (film krótkometrażowy)

2014 Ni jing / Under the Water (film krótkometrażowy)

2020 Milczący las / Wusheng / The Silent Forest

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