The Silent One video

 The Silent One still

Silent One, The - 1984



Gibson Film Productions - 92 min.

Cast: Telo Malese, George Henare, Pat Evison, Anzac Wallace,
Rongo Tupatea Kahu,Rongo Tupatea Kahu
Screenplay: Ian Mune (from a Joy Cowley novel); Photography: Ian Paul; Underwater Photography: Ron and Valerie Taylor; Music: Jenny McLeod; Editor: Jamie Selkirk; Producer: Dave Gibson; Director: Yvonne Mackay.
A baby is washed up on a Pacific Island and is adopted by a childless woman. The tribal priest takes an instant dislike to the child, proclaiming him a demon. The child is deaf and mute and therefore excluded from hunting with the other young men. Out of loneliness, he befriends a white turtle. When a drought befalls the island, the priest blames the silent one. When the chief protects the boy, the priest plots the chiefs' downfall. An OK story with fabulous underwater photography, a great storm scene, and a wonderful original soundtrack. Filmed in the Cook Islands. Recommended

Censor Rating: G - Review Rating: B-

AVAILABILITY OF VHS OR DVD COPIES

No known sources for new vhs copies. Expect used NTSC copies to cost up to $50us. Used PAL VHS copies will be at least $40nz. R0 PAL DVD-R copies are available from the producer, but they do not take credit cards or PayPal type payments. If you have only seen this film from vhs, you will be more than pleased about the technical improvement of seeing it on dvd, but there are no extras and no selectable segments. It is presented in its original 1.33:1 format with 2.0 dolby digital sound
Beginning 17 July, 2007, Aro Video, in Wellington, began selling R0 dvd copies for $45nz. Check out the divx video clip link below.

NOTE: Check the "VHS Sale" page for used copies.


SOUNDTRACK ON AUDIO CD

No reliable source for copies of this soundtrack, at this time.

Link to soundtrack sample download

The first known NZ feature film to also have its own soundtrack release was the 1977 33rpm LP of Sleeping Dogs. Other titles that are on 33rpm LP and/or audio cassette, but have not yet (as of 2007) found their way to CD are: Solo (1978), Goodbye Pork Pie (1980), Battletruck (1981), Smash Palace (1981), Strata (1984) and The Silent One (1984).

Details on these rare LPs can be found at the Soundtrack LP page.


REVIEWS

New Zealand Film Commission Synopsis

User comments at IMDB

Moria Review

Four Word Film Review

New Zealand Film Archive Info and Reviews

Tiscali Kultura Review (Czech Republic)

"The Silent One includes on- water and under- water scenes. On- water scenes were the hardest to shoot, Gibson and Mackay said, because the sea could not be controlled. A unit might spend a whole day getting a few tricky shots [...] Although The Silent One is Mackay's first feature, she has a 15 year background as an actress, radio drama producer, and film director. She is pleased with what she has seen of the film. 'I look and I know there are moments of magic there'" - (Merrill Coke, "Film-making in Islands not beer and skittles", The Evening Post, January 3, 1984)

"Entering the record books as the first New Zealand feature by a woman director, Yvonne Mackay's The Silent One is a handsomely shot, intriguing, but uneven fable set on a mythical Polynesian island (actually Aitutaki Island, Rarotonga). [...] Mackay, graduating to features after cutting her teeth on documentaries and TV dramas, has fashioned a visually striking picture which makes excellent use of the location, a paradise on earth" - (Variety, May 16, 1984)

The Silent One has won five awards including the Best Film Soundtrack of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards (it was the first NZ feature with a Dolby stereo soundtrack).

TRAILER & AWARDS

Official Trailer

1984 - New Zealand Music Awards: Best Film Soundtrack - Jenny McLeod.

1984 - Frankfurt Film Festival for Youth: Best Children's Film

1984 - Silver Gryphon - Giffoni Film Festival for Children, Italy

1985 - Moscow Film Festival: Silver Medal: Children's Section, Russia

1985 - Figuera de Foz Festival, Portugal: Best Children's Film

1986 - Chicago Children's Film Festival: Best Cinematography

1986 - Paris Film Festival for Children and young people - Best Actor: Telo Malase also - Special Jury Prize for Best Film


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