Silent Friend

“A true original. One of those cinematic events that, once seen, will not be easily forgotten.” – Peter Sobczynski, RogerEbert.com

From visionary Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi, Silent Friend is an epic, awe-inspiring exploration of the natural world, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wa (In the Mood for Love), Léa Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Color), and Luna Wedler (The Most Beautiful Girl in the World). At the heart of a German university grows a majestic ginkgo tree, its lifespan measured in centuries. As the years pass, the distinguished plant bears witness to the private lives of those who seek shade under its boundless branches, forming a nexus that connects three generations of students and teachers across time and space. In 2020, a visiting neuroscientist conducts a series of experiments into the possibilities of botanical consciousness. In 1972, a young student is profoundly changed by studying the behavior of a simple geranium. And in 1908, the university’s first female student’s photographic inquiries reveal sacred patterns of the universe hidden within the humblest of plants. Over time, each is transformed by the quiet, enduring, and mysterious power of nature. (Dir. by Ildikó Enyedi, 2025, Germany/Hungary/France/China, in English/German/Cantonese with English subtitles, 147 mins., Not Rated)