BEYOND SILENCE (DVD/ENG-SUB) DVD

Beyond Silence
A young woman struggles with her unusual relationship with her mother and father in this drama from Germany. Laura (Tatjana Trieb) is a bright young girl whose parents, Martin (Howie Seago) and Kai (Emmanuelle Laborit), are deaf and dumb. Living in a small town in Germany, where International Sign Language has long been frowned upon due to local superstitions, Martin and Kai have a great deal of difficulty communicating with others. However, Laura knows sign language as well as her parents, and she frequently acts as an interpreter between her parents and others, often missing school as a result (though when translating for her mother at a parent-teacher conference, Laura cleverly twists a poor evaluation in her favor). Laura is given a clarinet by her Aunt Clarissa (Sybille Canonica), but this inflames an old sibling rivalry in Martin, and he makes it clear to Laura that he does not approve of her study of music, a subject he cannot understand or take part in. Laura begins learning the instrument despite her father's wishes, and she soon develops a keen talent. Years later, teenaged Laura (now played by Sylvie Testud) is a gifted musician and is encouraged by her clarinet teacher to attend a conservatory in Berlin, where a scholarship can be arranged. Despite Martin's objections, Laura goes to Berlin with Kai's blessings. While studying in Berlin, Laura meets Tom (Hansa Czpionka), a young man who teaches hearing impaired children, and she finds herself enjoying both romance and independence for the first time. Sadly, Laura's good fortune goes south when tragedy strikes at home. Jenseits der Stille, released in the United States as Beyond Silence, received a 1997 Academy Award nomination as Best Foreign Language film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast n/a

Crew Katarina van Martius - Costume Designer Caroline Link - Director Patricia Rommel - Editor Niki Reiser - Songwriter Heidi Moser - Makeup Gernot Roll - Camera Operator Jakob Claussen - Producer Luggi Waldleitner - Producer Thomas Woebke - Producer Susann Bieling - Set Designer Andreas Wölki - Sound/Sound Designer Caroline Link - Screenwriter Beth Serlin - Screenwriter

Beyond Silence
(not reviewed)
 

Caroline Link: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Foreign Language Film (nominated)

National Board of Review, Best Foreign Film (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: Ger Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: DDS: Dolby Digital Surround Additional Features: none specified DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 107 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Opening Credits: Lara's Ears [5:39] 2. Reading Is Important [5:23] 3. Merry Christmas [6:33] 4. Aunt Clarissa [4:55] 5. Losing Lara? [3:14] 6. Clarissa's Recital [5:01] 7. Learning to Ride [4:06] 8. Lara's Schoolwork [3:17] 9. The Recital [4:37] 10. Quieting Snow [4:57] 11. A Father's World [4:53] 12. To Berlin [5:24] 13. Struggling With Clarissa [3:09] 14. A New Friend [5:34] 15. The First Date [4:59] 16. An Accident [4:36] 17. Inspiration [8:26] 18. Thrown Out of the Cage [5:26] 19. Marie's Surprise [6:32] 20. Trying to Understand [6:09] 21. End Credits [3:29]