Silent Light Film Difficulty Ranking: 4
It’s obvious Silent Light is going to be a beautifully shot film once you take in the 10 minute opening. It’s one of the most stunning openings you could see – best saved for the big screen. Whilst the images are stunning, they never feel forced, just like the script, a simple story of a family man having an affair with another woman. It’s depth lies in it’s patience and transparency of the characters who hide nothing from their friends and family, or from us, the audience.
From: Mexico, North America
Watch: Trailer, Buy on Amazon
Next: Ordet, Tree of Life, Y Tu Mama Tambien
Why Watch Silent Light?
- For the beautiful opening and closing shots – cyclical beauty.
- Meet a remote Mennonite community living in Northern Mexico.
- Have time to contemplate in long shots and silence.
- If you liked Dreyer’s Ordet – this film is its spiritual sequel.
The Breakdown
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.
Genesis 1:1-3
On the second day, God created the sky. On the third day, God created dry land, seas, plants, and trees. For the rest of the week, he created the Sun, Moon, and stars, followed by the animals, and finally humans. On the seventh day, God finished his work of creation and rested, marking the seventh day as a day of rest.
Why am I telling you the biblical story of the 7 days of creation? Because it’s beautifully adapted in the opening of Silent Light. From a pitch black opening shot, light starts to appear in the stars (day 1), followed by silhouettes of clouds (day 2) and trees (day 3) as the camera pans down to the horizon. Then, the sun slowly rises (day 4), awakening the sounds of nature (day 5), before the scene is interrupted by a ticking clock and a human family sitting at a table (day 6) praying before their breakfast (day 7).
By using images of the seven days of creation, Reygadas sets up the religiousness that guides the film’s story via the imagery and the characters, who are all part of a Mennonite community living in Northern Mexico. The significance of Mennonites in this instance, is that, like the Amish and other Anabaptist groups, they live by a clear set of religious beliefs and values. Their integrity is personified in the head of the family having their breakfast in the opening – Johan, an honest, humble father of 5 children and husband of a faithful wife.
The emotional burden of love
The opening ends with the Mennonite family eating breakfast at a long rectangular table with Johan, the father, at the head sitting towards the camera. They all eat in silence. It looks like a normal family scene, but something isn’t quite right with the dad. He doesn’t look comfortable or happy. We can only guess what’s wrong, but we are shown what’s at stake, as a few minutes later, his wife and children leave him alone at the head of the table. He starts crying and stops the clock which ticked in the opening – it’s him signifying the end of his happy family and the start of his fall from grace. He’s in love with another woman.
Because of his faith, and complementing the religious tone of the film, Johan is pure and transparent. He talks to his friends, his father, and even his wife to try and find a solution to his feelings for this other woman. He knows he can’t stop his love for her, but he is willing to try to remain faithful for the sake of his family. It’s his honesty and the pure religious imagery that turns this into one of the most moving and helpless love triangles you can see on screen.
What to Watch Next
Firstly, before (or after if it’s too late) you should watch Dreyer’s Ordet, which is both an inspiration and a spiritual prequel for this film.
Or if you’re looking for more contemplative, beautifully shot film featuring emotional characters and little dialogue, check out Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life and Days of Heaven.
Or if you want to see what other big films were coming out of Mexico at the same time as Carlos Reygadas, check out Amores Perros from Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Y Tu Mama Tambien from Alfonso Cuaron.
','' ); } ?>