How to Say Silence
Synopsis
A photo found by the filmmaker at her grandmother’s house after her death seemed strange. She has a pregnant belly. But she had told the story of adopting the director’s father because she was not able to conceive. Her old friends explained the kibbutz decided state-building efforts preclude giving birth, and she had an abortion that damaged her womb. This set the director’s curiosity about her biological grandmother. The adoption file told of Shoshana, 16, an Iraqi immigrant who got pregnant out of wedlock. Her sister revealed that the family abused her but she refused to give up the baby, who was eventually taken from her. Both suffered patriarchal oppression and remained silent. The grandmothers’ stories led the filmmaker to confront her parents about her own silence on sexual abuse in the family. For the sake of the three, she must break silence.
Credits
Director(s)
Shir Newman
Producer(s)
Dana Shalev, Uzi Karin, Tzipi Baider
Cinematography
May Abadi-Grebler
Editor
Sharon Yaish
Original Music
Arnon Naor (Sun Tailor)
Original Language
Hebrew
Subtitles
English
Festival Highlights
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WINNER
Best Debut FilmDocaviv International Film Festival2021 -
WINNER
Best Documentary FilmIsraeli Film Critics Association2021 -
Special Mention
Best Feature DocumentarySIMA - Social Impact Media Awards2022 -
WINNER
Audience AwardFlahertiana International Documentary Film Festival2022 -
Special Mention
Documentary FilmFlahertiana International Documentary Film Festival2022 -
Special Mention
Documentary FilmBastau International Film Festival2022
Bastau International Film Festival, Russia, Competition, 2022
University of Philadelphia, USA, 2022
Flahertiana International Documentary Film Festival, Russia, Competition, 2022
Festival Mix México, Mexico, 2022
University of Michigan, USA, 2022
This Human World, Austria, Competition, 2021
Boston Women's Film Festival, USA, 2021
Docaviv International Film Festival, Israel, Israeli Competition, 2021
Reviews
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...[the director] manages to tell the story with incredible sensitivity in a surprisingly quiet way, balancing obvious fractures with intimacy and closeness. Her style unfolds an irresistible pull that generates deep empathy and testifies to great strength. Jury's justification, Docaviv International Film Festival 2021
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The film combines the story of three women - including the director herself - into one staggering, complex work. Dealing bravely with oppression and trauma, and develops into a powerful statement about the need to silence and hide subjects which are considered taboo, and the destructive pain it leads to. Jury's justification, Israeli Film Critics Association 2021
