Official Selection - Out of Competition · 46th Edition
Silent Friend
SILENT FRIEND
Director
Ildikó Enyedi
Country
Germany, Hungary, France
Runtime
2 h 27 min
Language
German, English
Premiere
MENA premiere (Middle East and North Africa)
Synopsis
In the heart of a botanical garden in a medieval university town in Germany stands a majestic ginkgo tree. This silent witness has observed for over a century the quiet rhythms of transformation across three human lives: in 2020, a neuroscientist from Hong Kong begins an unexpected experiment with the old tree; in 1972, a student is profoundly changed by observing a geranium; and in 1908, the university’s first female student discovers sacred patterns of the universe through photography. Their awkward attempts to connect unfold under the mysterious power of nature.
Cast
Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Luna Wedler, Enzo Brumm, Sylvester Groth, Martin Wuttke, Johannes Hegemann, Rainer Bock, Léa Seydoux
Screenplay
Ildikó Enyedi
Producers
Reinhard Brundig, Mónika Mécs, Nicolas Elghozi, Morgane Olivier, Meng Xie
About the Director
She is an award-winning and Oscar-nominated director. Her first feature, My XX. Century, won the Golden Camera for Best Debut at Cannes. Magic Hunter competed in Venice, followed by Tamas and Juli (Venice special screening). After a long absence, she returned with On Body and Soul (Berlinale, Golden Bear 2017 / Oscar nomination) and The Story of My Wife (Cannes Competition 2021).
Screenings