Silent Light

Infobox Film
name = Silent Light


caption = French theatrical poster
director = Carlos Reygadas
producer = Carlos Reygadas
Jaime Romandia
writer = Carlos Reygadas
starring = Elizabeth Fehr
Jacobo Klassen
Maria Pankratz
Miriam Toews
Cornelio Wall
Peter Wall
cinematography = Alexis Zabe
editing = Natalia López
released = December 7 2007 (UK)
runtime = 127 min. (Toronto Film Festival) / 142 min. (General release)
country = Mexico
France
Netherlands
Germany
language = Plautdietsch
English
Spanish
French
imdb_id = 0841925

"Silent Light" (Plautdietsch: "Stellet Licht"; Spanish: "Luz silenciosa") is a 2007 film written and directed by the Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas. Filmed in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, a city in the north of Mexico, the film 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 Russian Mennonites.

Production

Carlos Reygadas’ films are known for their long sequences, particular rhythm, and the 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 between companies from Mexico, France and the Netherlands.

Response

Reviewers

The film received a positive response from many critics. The "Time" 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’ genius makes every moment sacred." The magazine Sight & Sound rated it number 6 on their list of the top films of 2007.

Awards

* 2007 Cannes Film Festival – Jury Prize (Winner)
* 2007 Chicago International Film Festival – Gold Hugo (Winner)
* 2007 Huelva International Film Festival - Colón de Oro (Winner)
* 2007 Bergen International Film Festival - Norwegian Film Institute's Import Award (Winner)
* 2007 Stockholm International Film Festival - Best Script (Winner)
* 2007 Havana Film Festival - Grand Coral (Winner)

External links

* [http://www.luzsilenciosa.com/ Official website]
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* " [http://www.tiff07.ca/filmsandschedules/filmdetails.aspx?ID=705302203091386 Silent Light] " at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival
* [http://www.plautdietsch-freunde.de Plautdietsch-Freunde association]

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title=Jury Prize, Cannes
years=2007
tied with "Persepolis"
before="Red Road"
after="Il Divo"