Your Silent Face Reviewed by Marcello Rollando
Your Silent Face is a short film, produced by the 2022 Silver Telly Award television category recipient, Bill McDonald, powerfully fluid with more of real life in real neighborhoods, where real people live out the fantasies and dramas of life – where neither breaking news nor red, white and blue sit-coms grant more than a glancing blow of in depth appreciation.
Yet, Your Silent Face, as envisioned by writer, and award-winning first-time Director Anna Capunay begins with the simplicity of a universal shot with title – an all too familiar image of a piece of life twisted in on itself, dangling, until an unknown breath or earthbound breeze comes its way close enough to ever so slightly, even if only for an uncertain moment, change its through line toward where it can breathe without the need to defend itself for being a silent face yearning for a reason to rejoice.
Perhaps, at first glance Your Silent Face is a story about romantically linked Latinas who, for a musical escape from reality of uncertainty sneak out to catch the reality of a favorite post-punk band. It is, however, about more than a one-night stand. Indeed, the three characters are drawn simultaneously into love for and conflict with each other, due as much because of their three distinctively different addictions, as they are united by their all too real similar human needs to protect, to explore – to survive.
In the film, Your Silent Face, director Anna Capunay captures and delivers on screen, a tremendously touching three-character dramatic play, so well crafted, their collective and singular journeys resonate far beyond the cultural environment, family structure and insecure escape into the music of friendship, love and touch – if we dare venture where a clearer mind would perhaps mute choice.
Your Silent Face is as much about the duplications of us we see in others, as the crevices that divide us against each other.
Your Silent Face is a mother (deftly played by Greta Quispe) traversing the fine line between parenting and letting go of a young daughter hooked so long, it may be too late, especially when mom’s choices are diminished to, either the hospital or the police.
Nonetheless, even while battling her own demons, this mother rejuvenates, tough love into a stratosphere where both faith in oneself and trust in her daughter are rewarded as only freedom to choose can grant.
You won’t see the reasoning of the voice of reason (Yessenia Rivas) until the detailing of a parental threat.
Hey, there’s no rush okay, may indeed be exactly what this film is about, because while so much immerging, urging and conflict over what makes happiness fills every frame, Your Silent Face, in just under twenty minutes, is most definitely no rush job.
inDfilm 