Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Silent No More

Carlos Reygadas’ Stellet Licht (Luz silenciosa) or Silent Light, has been getting a ton of buzz at Cannes, and on the Internet. In fact whenever I write about the film, hits to this blog shoot skyward.

The film was shot in Chihuahua, Mexico, and was funded in June 2006 by the World Cinema Fund.

The story takes place in a little known Menonite community in Mexico. Reygadas’ slow-building style apparently suits the emotionally closed atmosphere of the community.
The lead character is a respected father and farmer who falls for another woman. He doesn’t hide the attraction from his wife, and neither woman meets. The farmer believes the hand of God can be seen here, others believe the devil is at work, but not in an Exorcist Hollywood way.

The Hollywood Reporter raved, “"Silent Light," or "Stellet Licht" in the Plautdietsch tongue, continues to dwell within your mind long after the lights have come back up.”