The Silent Child

The Silent Child
Film poster
Directed byChris Overton
Written byRachel Shenton
Produced by
Starring
  • Rachel Shenton
  • Maisie Sly
  • Rachel Fielding
  • Philip York
CinematographyAli Farahani
Edited byEmily Walder
Music byAmir Konjani
Production
company
Slick Films
Release date
  • 8 August 2017 (2017-08-08) (US)
Running time
20 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguagesEnglish and British Sign Language

The Silent Child is a British sign language short film written by and starring Rachel Shenton and directed by her own husband Chris Overton, and released in 2017 by Slick Films.[1] It tells the story of Libby, a profoundly deaf six-year-old girl, who lives a silent life until a social worker, played by Shenton, teaches her how to communicate through sign language.[2] The film won the Oscar for Live Action Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards.[3] The film's television debut was on BBC One to an audience of 3.6 million,[4] the film then received an extended period on BBC iPlayer.

Premise

The film was based on Shenton's own experiences as the child of a parent who became deaf. The film features profoundly deaf six-year-old first-time actor Maisie Sly as the titular child.[5][6] British Sign Language (BSL) is used in the film.

Plot

Joanne (Rachel Shenton) is a social worker who arrives at Libby's (Maisie Sly) home as Libby's siblings (Sam Rees and Annie Cusselle) and father Paul (Philip York) run out the door. Libby's mother, Sue, (Rachel Fielding) explains that Libby was found deaf at three years old despite having no deaf relatives, and that she can lip-read. However, the truth is no one makes any effort to communicate with her: though they assume Libby is able to read their lips proficiently, they change topics quickly, speak without facing her, and leave her isolated for long periods of time. Libby's most strained relationship is with her mother, who claims she is too busy for such basic activities as taking her to the park, and whose physical affection Libby rejects.

Taken aback at Libby's lack of familial interaction, and wishing to help the child diversify her forms of communication, Joanne teaches Libby British Sign Language. They take trips to the park and garden, play sardines and eat sweets, all in BSL. Libby, who quickly gains a proficiency of BSL, soon adores Joanne, with whom she can communicate. However, Libby is still unable to communicate at home; though her siblings show appreciation for Joanne's work and Libby's knowledge of BSL, even showing interest in learning the language, Libby's parents flatly refuse to learn, with the excuse that there is no time for the family to participate due to their schedules. Furthermore, Sue shows increasing signs of insecurity at Joanne's close relationship with Libby, and is opposed to Libby learning BSL, believing that Libby's best chance of classroom integration is to continue lip-reading in opposition to Joanne's insistence that her best odds are with a classroom aide and interpreter (a role Joanne volunteers for).

While talking to Paul's mother (Anna Barry), Joanne realizes that Libby was the product of an extramarital affair, and her biological father’s father was deaf, contrary to what Sue had said in their first meeting. The family has low expectations for Libby, despite her being intelligent and active; Paul's mother shows outdated knowledge of deafness and is unsure if Libby will even be able to get a job.

Soon, Sue and Paul fire Joanne, telling her that Libby cannot continue BSL and must return to lip-reading. Despite Joanne's suggestions they are sending her to a normal school, where another deaf boy had been and "did fine". On Libby's first day at school, she cannot understand anything. She stands all day, alone, while the teacher talks as if Libby could hear, and the children play around her. Joanne, upset at being unable to say goodbye to Libby, arrives at her school to find her standing alone at recess. When the little girl spots her, she signs "I love you". Joanne, realizing Libby's future (alone, with no communication and no support), begins to cry before signing "I love you" back, and leaves. The film ends with a PSA that deaf children can succeed in every way a hearing child can, as long as they have the proper support.

Cast

  • Rachel Shenton as Joanne, a social worker
  • Maisie Sly as Libby, a profoundly deaf 6-year-old girl
  • Rachel Fielding as Sue
  • Philip York as Paul
  • Anna Barry as Nancy
  • Sam Rees as Seb
  • Annie Cusselle as Pip

Reception

Critical response

The Silent Child has an approval rating of 92% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 reviews, and an average rating of 8.71/10.[7]

Awards and nominations

The Silent Child won best short film at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in August 2017. This made it eligible for entry to the Oscars. In December 2017 the film was selected as one of the final ten films in the Live Action Short Film category for the 90th Academy Awards. On 23 January 2018, it was announced that The Silent Child was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for the 90th Academy Awards, which it then won. Shenton kept a promise that she had made to their young lead actress and signed her acceptance speech.[8]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipients Result
Academy Awards March 4, 2018 Live Action Short Film Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
Aesthetica Short Film Festival November 12, 2017 People's Choice Award Chris Overton Won
Aesthetica Short Film Festival November 12, 2017 Youth Jury Award Chris Overton Won
Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival August, 2017 Award of Recognition: Short Drama Chris Overton Won
Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival August, 2017 Award of Recognition: Actress Under 18 Maisie Sly Won
London Independent Film Awards August, 2017 Best Actress Rachel Shenton Won
Rhode Island International Film Festival August 13, 2017 Best Actress Maisie Sly Won
Rhode Island International Film Festival August 13, 2017 Grand Jury Prize Winner Chris Overton Won
Encounters International Film Festival 2017 Audience Choice Award Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
American Short Film Awards 2017 Best Short Film of the Year Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
Gold Movie Awards 2017 Film of the Year Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
Gold Movie Awards 2017 Film of the Month Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
Gold Movie Awards 2017 Best Short Film Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
Lift-Off Film Festival, Season Awards 2017 Best Acting Ensemble The entire cast. Won
New Renaissance Film Festival 2017 Humanity Award Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
New Renaissance Film Festival 2017 Best Cinematography Ali Farahani Won
New Renaissance Film Festival 2017 Best Director Chris Overton Nominated
New Renaissance Film Festival 2017 Best Actress Rachel Shenton Nominated
Sydney Indie Film Festival 2017 Best Film Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
Sydney Indie Film Festival 2017 Best Cinematography Ali Farahani Nominated
Sydney Indie Film Festival 2017 Best Actress Rachel Shenton Nominated
Southampton International Film Festival 2017 Best Short Screenplay Rachel Shenton Won
Southampton International Film Festival 2017 Best Short Film Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Nominated
Southampton International Film Festival 2017 Best Actress Rachel Shenton Nominated
Southampton International Film Festival 2017 Best Supporting Actress Maisy Sly Nominated
Overcome Film Festival 2017 Best Actress Rachel Shenton Won
Overcome Film Festival 2017 Best International Short Film Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
Riverbend Film Festival 2018 Best Actress Rachel Shenton Won
Riverbend Film Festival 2018 Best Director Chris Overton Won
Savannah Film Festival 2017 Best Narrative Short Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
The Short Film Awards 2017 Best Narrative Short Film Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won
The Short Film Awards 2017 Best Editing Emily Walder Won
London Independent Film Festival 2017 Grand Jury Prize Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton Won

Festivals Selections

Film Festival Notes
Rhode Island International Film Festival Official Selection
Aesthetica Short Film Festival Official Selection
Encounters International Film Festival Official Selection
Savannah Film Festival Official Selection
Foyle International Film Festival Official Selection
Heartland International Film Festival Official Selection
London Short Film Festival Official Selection
London Independent Film Festival Official Selection
HollyShorts International Film Festival Official Selection
Sydney Indie Film Festival Official Selection
Kerry Short Film Festival Official Selection
Underwire International Film Festival Official Selection
New Renaissance International Film Festival Official Selection
Bolton International Film Festival Official Selection
London Lift-Off Film Festival Official Selection
Hollywood International Moving Picture Film Festival Official Selection
Southampton International Film Festival Official Selection
Overcome Film Festival Official Selection
Riverbend Film Festival Official Selection
Gold Movie Awards Official Selection
The Short Film Awards Official Selection
American Short Film Awards Official Selection

See also

References

  1. ^ "10 Live action shorts advance in 2017 Oscar race". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 11 December 2017.
  2. ^ Colin Paterson (20 January 2018). "The Silent Child: From Hollyoaks to Hollywood?". BBC News.
  3. ^ "Oscars 2018: The list of nominees in full". BBC News. 23 January 2018.
  4. ^ "RATINGS! Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Googlebox, more viewing figures". 31 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Profoundly deaf Maisie Sly is the star of a short film which won an Oscar". BBC News. 20 January 2018.
  6. ^ Daniel Angelini (23 January 2018). "Oscar nomination for short film starring Swindon six-year-old Maisie". Swindon Advertiser.
  7. ^ "The Silent Child". Rotten Tomatoes.
  8. ^ "Deaf British girl's film wins an Oscar". BBC News. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2018-03-05.

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