The sound of silence

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Movie
German title The sound of silence
Original title The Silent Touch / Dotknięcie ręki
Country of production United Kingdom ,
Poland ,
Denmark
original language English , Polish
Publishing year 1992
length 95 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Krzysztof Zanussi
script Peter Morgan ,
Mark Wadlow
production Krzysztof Zanussi,
Mark Forstater ,
Mads Egmont Christensen
music Wojciech Kilar
camera Jaroslaw Zamojda
cut Marek Denys
occupation

The sound of silence (original title: The Silent Touch or Dotknięcie ręki ) is a British - Polish - Danish drama by Krzysztof Zanussi from 1992. Zanussi had to leave Poland in 1980 because of his closeness to the Solidarność trade union and shoot films abroad, which made him inspired this film. The film was shown in the cinema and was shown at the 1993 Munich Film Festival.

action

The young musicology student Stefan Bugajski at Cracow University wakes up once again to a startling melody. In the middle of the night he rushes to his professor Jerzy Kern. You are puzzling over this melody. The student believes that only the brilliant Hungarian composer Henry Kesdi can shape this melody into a symphony. But he, as he learns from the professor, is a victim of the Holocaust. He survived, but his beloved wife did not. He has not composed like this for 40 years and lives withdrawn with his second wife Helene in Denmark, addicted to alcohol. Driven by the fact that this melody has to become a symphony, the student travels to Denmark with a backpack and sleeping bag to the sheltered Kesdis estate with a letter of recommendation from Kern, who studied with Kesdi.

It is very difficult to get through the circle of defense to Kesdi. Stefan succeeds in finding means that alleviate Kesdi's physical complaints. But when Stefan talks about composing, Kesdi injures him badly with a knife on his arm in a flare up anger. Kesdi's scruples about allowing himself to go so far as to hurt the young man like this are the door opener for Stefan. Kesdi recognizes the old melody that Stefan plays for him as an old Jewish tune that he once wanted to process himself. The inspiration from the melody, Stefan's special talent through the laying on of hands, in general positively influencing his state of health through his presence, lead to Kesdi reviving and actually thinking of composing a symphony based on this melody. He, who is over seventy, feels energetic again and even turns lovingly to his wife Helen, who serves him with endless patience. Stefan now asks him directly to compose the symphony in order to serve the good, especially in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. It was an obligation, if he had the talent and the tools to do it. Kesdi is now looking for an assistant music secretary to translate the composition into legible notation. But there is no one who is suitable under the applicant field after a corresponding advertisement. Again it is Stefan who finds a student at the university, between whom Kesdi and Kesdi are immediately sympathetic. This swing between Kesdi and Annette Berg promotes the creative process. It is a swing that also has high erotic proportions. Kesdi meets with Annette in town. But the secret physical love fails because of the age of Kesdi. Kesdi rages in disappointment and is about to burn up what has been created so far. Again Stefan should help him, again he succeeds. But it is difficult for him. He accuses Kesdi of excessive selfishness, which is obviously part of the creative process. Stefan had found Annette after all, found her interesting, lovable. After a wild night of love with Annette in mutual desire, in mutual love, Kesdi continues working on the symphony. Helene noticed this development. She is depressed, but does not revolt.

Then, during his birthday party, Kesdi fakes a heart attack for fun. He is astonishingly healthy and rejuvenated, as his doctor notes. But Stefan collapses. His wound, which Kesdi inflicted on him, is bleeding again. He has to go to the hospital. His immune system is very weak, the doctor diagnoses. Helene visits him in the hospital and asks him to return to Poland, he is the source of a change in her life that she does not want. Kesdi's family doctor also wants to know what drives him to fight for the creation of the symphony so that he experiences attacks of weakness himself. But it should be an answer that he can understand. Stefan says that he finally wants to sleep peacefully again.

The symphony is performed brilliantly in front of a full concert hall, and Stefan hears it in his sick bed. During the performance, Annette Helene confesses that she is pregnant. But the doctor's prediction comes true: Kesdi's youthful health is one last rebellion. In the storm of applause after the end, Kesdi collapses and is taken to the hospital.

Two years later, Stefan can be seen teaching musicology in Krakow. Then he receives a call from Helen, who asks him to come. When he arrives at Kesdi's house, he finds Annette and Helene, who are taking care of Kesdi's son Thomas. He finds Kesdi again as a ruin, an old man who is dawning. This time Stefan tells him tearfully that he feels so empty. Kesdi answers him if he should straighten him this time. He reminds him of the armor. Then he falls asleep. Stefan, feeling sad about his inner emptiness, approaches Thomas's bed. He takes it out. Both communicate and the grief disappears from Stefan's face.

production

Mark Forstater Productions Ltd. (London), Zespól Filmowy "Tor" (Warsaw) and Metronome Productions A / S (Copenhagen) produced the film.

The music for the film comes from the work "Exodus" (1981) for choir and orchestra by Wojciech Kilar, which relates the book Exodus and the situation in Poland shortly before the introduction of martial law (December 13, 1981).

reception

Mirella Napolska notes that it took 10 years before this devilish script could be implemented. A story about the indefinability of genius, about the metaphysics of inspiration and the price of art and in a more general sense about the coexistence or even bizarre collaboration of good and bad, inspired by the earthly sacred and profane.

Max von Sydow received the 1992 Tokyo Film Festival award for portraying Henry Kesdi.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Film music - Wojciech Kilar - Ninateka. Retrieved April 24, 2020 .
  2. ^ New Horizons International Film Festival - The Silent Touch. Retrieved April 24, 2020 (English).