Voice of Silence (Korean: 소리도 없이; RR: Sorido Eopsi; lit. "Without A Sound") is a 2020 South Korean indiecrime drama film written and directed by Hong Eui-jeong, from her screenplay which was selected as one of the top 12 projects at Venice Biennale College-Cinema 2016/2017 in 2016. It stars Yoo Ah-in and Yoo Jae-myung. The first feature directorial debut of Hong Eui-jeong, the film was premiered in South Korea on October 15, 2020.[2] The film received almost universal critical acclaim, particularly for its dark comedy, social subtext, and performances. It won Cheval Noir Award for Best Film at the 2021 Fantasia International Film Festival[3] and Best Film at the 2021 Busan Film Critics Awards.
Plot
Tae-in, a young man who never speaks, and Chang-bok, a religious old man, work as the clean-up crew for a crime organization. One day, they receive an order from their immediate superior to take care of an eleven-year-old kidnapped girl Cho-hee for two days. The responsibility to take care of the girl falls upon the mute Tae-in who lives in the outback with a sister of a younger age than Cho-hee. The superior who does the activities behind the kingpin's back gets killed for it, and the duo does not know what to do with the girl.
In 2016, it was revealed that director Hong Eui-jeong and BAFTA winning producer, Afolabi Kuti of Broedmachine, planned to collaborate on producing Hong's screenplay. The screenplay had been selected as one of the top 12 projects at Venice Biennale Collage-Cinema 2016/2017[4][5] and shortlisted for Sundance Screenwriters Lab (working title Without A Trace).[6] In 2019, Lewis Pictures and Broccoli Pictures joined the production with Acemaker Movieworks distributing the film.[7]
On its opening day in South Korea, Voice of Silence accumulated nearly 16,000 viewers, taking 31.1% of the box office and also taking the first place from Pawn at the box office.[1] During the first weekend of its release, Voice of Silence garnered 220,395 viewers, securing the first place at the box office for its first weekend.[29][30]Voice of Silence became the highest indie film opening after the outbreak of COVID-19 in South Korea.[31] It has since clocked up 403,424 admissions in its home country.[1]
Critical response
On Korean review aggregatorNaver Movie Database, the film holds an approval rating of 7.94 from critic reviews.[32] On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% from six reviews.[33]
Rouven Linnarz from Asian Movie Pulse called it "a fascinating and quite gripping blend of drama and thriller", and wrote, "Hong Eui-jeong has created an ambitious piece of work, whose cast and aesthetics are just two aspects within a story that offers a rich, but also grim social subtext".[34] Andrew Murray from The Upcoming wrote that the film was "fantastically mean-spirited when it comes to its humour [...] leading to amusing misunderstandings and shocking surprises. The result is a constantly twisting plot that will keep viewers gripped from beginning to end."[35] Tyler Colosimo from The Movie Beat wrote, "Hong Eui-jeong's Voice of Silence brings a fresh behind-the-scenes perspective to the crime genre that explores the often unheard and unseen side of criminality. With excellent performances and intriguing drama told through a finely crafted veil of black comedy, Voice of Silence stands out as one of the best Korean films of the year".[36] Jennie Kermode of Eye of Film was similarly positive and wrote, "Hong Eui-jeong directs with such assurance and such flair that it's hard to believe this is her first feature", and concluded, "Voice Of Silence will horrify you, charm you, make you laugh, thrill you and leave you on the brink of tears. This is the kind of work that cinema was invented for."[37]
Nikki Baughan from Screen International called it, "a remarkable first feature from a talented new director who, one hopes, is only just beginning to find her own voice", and "a beautifully executed thriller which would be an impressive piece of work for any filmmaker, let alone one making her feature debut".[38] Nick Allen of Roger Ebert wrote in his Fantasia International Film Festival review, "[...] an impressive feat far more nuanced than Hollywood would ever dare without making it a jokey affair," and although "the larger statement seems lost in the daredevil storytelling", still "[i]t’s the sincere characters that linger, and the loving way they are presented", and concluded, "The movie is always genuine, just like its warming faith in people".[39]
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