SILENT LAND 

POLAND

Director:  Agnieszka Woszczyńska

Cast:  Dobromir Dymecki, Agnieszka Żulewska, Jean Marc Barr, Alma Jodorowsky, Marcello Romolo

Genre: Drama

113 minutes – Polish, English, French, Italian with English subtitles – 2021

A young couple rents a holiday home on a sunny Mediterranean island. A terrible accident occurs, the police investigate, fear replaces happiness, and the characters start to unravel, putting their relationship at risk. With undercurrent questions about migration pricking away in the background, this portrayal of how easily things can go wrong raises direct questions about what really is innocence? Is it about something one did or did not do?  Is it about action or inaction?  

Director Agnieszka Woszczyńska puts her film into focus: ‘Silent Land is not only about the collapse of a relationship, but also about the collapse of the value system in the modern world, the general indifference to reality, and social lethargy. Ultimately, Silent Land is a tale about alienation, not only from each other, but also from the world. It’s about conformity and passivity, where the need for safety and convenience is a strategy for survival.’ 

Subtly told, meticulously crafted and confidently directed, this lusciously tense and deeply observant feature debut is a cinematic gem.

Fade to Her

Resisting any need to make overt judgements, in Silent Land Woszczyńska confidently steps back and lets us make our own call about the moral questions her film prompts in her compelling, enigmatic debut.

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, AWFJ Women on Film

A striking and cerebral examination of human nature. 

Andrew Murray, The Upcoming

Woszczynska’s potent film expertly plumbs the depths of denial.

Gary M. Kramer, Salon.com

Silent Land is a meticulous character study featuring stunning performances and camera work that utilizes every shot with precision. A truly impressive debut.

Kristy Strouse, Film Inquiry