The Silent Child | Oscar® Winning Short Film

See our latest new short, Drifting, starring Gladiator 2's Paul Mescal:

Please turn on captions, as they are essential for the sign-language used throughout this film.

A deaf 6-year-old girl named Libby lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker gives her the gift of communication.

"Gorgeously shot and perfectly performed, the movie delivers an emotional wallop that many features six times its length never achieve” – The New York Times

"Effortlessly heart-tugging" - Los Angeles Times

"A rich script from first-time screenwriter Rachel Shenton” – IndieWire

"It’s beautiful and it’s a real little movie. I loved it” – The Hollywood Reporter

Written by: Rachel Shenton
Directed by: Chris Overton
Produced by: Rachel Shenton, Chris Overton, Rebecca Harris, Julie Foy
Associate Producer: Ali Farahani
Production Company: Slick Films

Starring: Maisie Sly, Rachel Shenton, Rachel Fielding, Philip York

Cinematography: Ali Farahani
Music by: Amir Konjani
Edited by: Emily Walder
Sound Design: Greg Claridge

Executive Producers: Danny Ormerod, Vanessa Johnstone, Terry Murphy, Mo Chaudry, Ian Lowe

Many thanks to Elena Dafouli for providing Greek translation for the subtitles.

[ravena]

It's sad how the brother seemed more interested in Libby's signing than the parents did. He genuinely looked amazed when she signed orange juice

[graceofcod]

Watching everyone talk and laugh at the dinner table without interacting with Libby broke my heart! How lonely she must be

[posiemiller]

"My ears are broken." wow that hit hard.

[ReaperLady]

I am Libby. 45 years ago. I was diagnosed at age 4 but my mom and my great aunt were born deaf/hard of hearing. They were forced to go to hearing mainstream schools. Both dropped out in high school because back then there were no supports for Deaf/deaf children. It was "sink or swim". I was forced as well and my mom always forced me to "pass" for hearing, no matter how hard, lonely, or even physically painful and tiring it was. I was never allowed to learn sign language and never encouraged to meet other Deaf children or adults.
My own deaf mother made me feel ashamed and made me hide what I truly was.
Today, my own deaf teenaged child is in a Deaf program in a good mainstream, learning with Deaf AND hearing peers, with signing and speaking teachers.
We broke the cycle of shame and ignorance.
I'm now an advocate and training to work with adults with disabilities.
None of this would be possible without embracing my true Deaf self.

[lilycocobrambles]

I almost cried when Libby signed "I love you" to the social worker! The little girl is adorable and an incredible actress!

[reshmahawa]

Heart breaking to see a child suffer like Libby, especially when she has an educated family. Shows that being educated isn’t enough in life, you need to be sensitive & compassionate too.

[D_a_]

Someone once said "Sign language is like a dance with words, " and these children should embrace that, not learn to hate it.

[catharinamariatheresia]

This movie is about all the children whose needs are not seen by their parents, who became invisible in their households. I feel such a love for the woman whom tried her absolute best, regardless of what will happen to Libby… she knows from a very young age it is possible to be seen and loved. Only if it is only by one person.

[hcyly]

Is no one talking about how good of an actress that little girl is?! She is amazing!

[mary._.yamborghini]

the amount of times the mom shouted goodbye while the daughter wasn't even facing her is infuriating.

[harmony]

That moment when Libby is at the table with her family and there is no sound is so incredibly powerful. Sometimes, the lack of dialogue/sound tells everything you need to know.

[sylviagerritsen]

It’s so sad. My daughter met two kids at the park that other children wouldn’t play with. She came home and told me they were deaf and she wanted me to teach her ‘hand talking’. I didn’t know sign language so I phoned the school for the deaf to see if she could do a short course. They said no because my daughter was only six and couldn’t write yet. I hired a private tutor. The deaf society made it impossible for a child to communicate with other deaf children. My daughter stuck with it and knows 3 different types of sign language now, it has in fact helped her throughout her life. She is now 39.

[phuonganhajh]

I cried the moment the supporter signed " I love you" and went away.

[elessarsgirl]

The mother was so jealous of their relationship, she put Libby in that school out of spite. If she really loved her daughter, she would've learned sign language.

[brookelee]

This broke me. I want to hug Libby. Her parents basically can’t be bothered with her and she realizes it. How sad to be a stranger in your own family.

[sim.pression]

Narcissistic parents often don't want the rejected child to succeed because they feel so much shame, because they themselves could not get the child to achieve anything.
This is not just a story about a deaf child. It is a story about a deaf child in a narcissistic family constellation.

[joanna]

Didn’t take me long to view this and cry! I’ve been deaf since birth, no one knew, At 3 they took my tonsils out because I wasn’t talking. In forth grade I got glasses to wear. My mother took me in to have hearing test, but no one talked to me about it. I was invisible! After seeing this film I thought people were a lot more educated then in my time, Born 1949! It grieves me. May the Lord bless the ones who are able and willing to help the deaf, and may He wrap His loving arms around those who are deaf. He has been my Hope, in getting through tough times. It’s been very difficult now that people wear mask.

[apistosig]

To the film makers - I have no idea who you all are but please do not ever stop exercising your craft. Please

[heenapirankar]

The fact that her brother took the initiative to understand some signs and knew she was asking for orange juice is appreciable.

Edit: Mom I'm famous. Thanks for the likes.

[lailaplaysdbd]

My teacher showed this in my child development class today. I got tears when Libby signed, "I love you."