From the director's statement: In just the past six months, there were many mornings when I woke up to heartbreaking news all over the world about women being the victims of violence and rape, and also being failed or incriminated by the justice system. I often feel extremely helpless, not knowing what I can do. Anything feels insignificant for the ones losing their freedom, human rights, and lives. So I want to seek the answers by making films about women, and for women who struggle and who fight. I started to write this story earlier this year when the legislative restriction in the United States on abortion was limiting more and more women from proper health care.
Of Silence and Song is screening at New Filmmakers LA
Emma, a mother and her daughter, Ellie are leaving their house in Texas, in somewhat of a rush. The daughter's question about her father coming to her grandma's, where they are headed, reveals that something is not going well in the marriage, considering Emma's cryptic reaction. Before that, however, they stop to a clinic, with the protagonist asking info about out-of-state abortion resources. The next scene has the two and her mother, Shirley, in a park having a picnic, but a phone call disturbs Emma significantly. Later in the house of the grandmother, the whole situation is rather clear, as much as the dead-end the protagonist finds herself in. However, she soon realizes that she is not the only one with the same problem, as her mother starts narrating her own story. The film then takes a rather dark turn in a flashback, with the story, however, offering exactly what Emma needed. The three women then celebrate Ellie's birthday.
Leyi Dai directs a short which seems to have two distinct purposes. The first one is to show that the place of women in the US society is still problematic, and the laws that prevent abortion have made their circumstances even worse, frequently resulting in hopelessness. Evidently, the protagonist experiences just that, with the fact that she seems to have just separated from her husband making the whole thing even worse, in a dramatic turn that works quite well for the movie.
The second purpose is to show that there is still hope, even under such circumstances, and that family can always provide a solace, with the movie ending in a somewhat romanticized, but definitely fitting note. The last part though, with the collection of photographs, even if appealing audiovisually, does emerge as cliched and a bit corny. The total absence of men (also in the crew of the film as far as I can see) detracts from the narrative, although considering “Of Silence and Song” lasts for 13 minutes, perhaps it was a necessity.
Song Im-sun's cinematography captures the various settings in a rather appealing way, also in the way the lighting and the coloring work, with the birthday cake scene being the apogee of the visuals of the movie. The initial scene in the car with the shot in the mirror and the close-up to Emma, also works quite well. Huang Chueh-Hui and Julia M. Quiceno's editing results in a relatively fast pace, which allows Dai Leyi to present her story and comments with almost no rushing.
Of Silence and Song review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
Kim Jiang Dubaniewicz as Emma is quite good in presenting her growing discomfort and how she tries to hide it for the sake of her daughter. Lynne Bolen portrays Shirley, effectively capturing her kind and understanding nature, while Grace Mar skillfully conveys the fear of her younger self.
“Of Silence and Song” is not spectacular, but is well-shot, well-acted and manages to highlight its comments eloquently, despite its duration. All in all, a very competent effort.
