The Silence (1963)

In the heart of an unfamiliar city, Timoka, Anna and her ailing sister Ester find themselves stranded, tethered to a hotel room while Ester battles the throes of her mysterious illness. Trapped within the confines of this foreign land, their young companion Johan, Anna's son, seeks solace in the labyrinthine corridors of the hotel, crossing paths with an eccentric troupe of dwarfs. "The Silence" unravels the complex tale of these two sisters, emotionally estranged yet bound by circumstance. Ester, a translator by profession, finds herself ironically unable to comprehend the local language, resulting in a dance of gestures and miming with the city's inhabitants. Anna, on the other hand, remains a figure of allure, her promiscuous nature undiminished even amidst the prevailing unease. Ester's cultivated intellect and controlling demeanor starkly contrast Anna's seemingly careless allure, their interactions laced with the bitter sting of words designed to wound. As the sisters grapple with their personal demons and the weight of their strained relationship, the question lingers - which of them is the true mother to the wandering Johan? "The Silence" is a riveting exploration of emotional distance and the desperate human yearning for connection, set against the backdrop of an alien city and the echoey halls of a seemingly deserted hotel.

The Silence is a drama movie featuring Ingrid Thulin.

The Silence is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy The Silence on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.