Silent Light

Silent Light is the magnificent newish film from Mexican director Carlos Reygadas. While this film is not for everyone it is for people who don't mind lingering shots and films that take their time to unspool.

The story is a simple one. Johan (Cornelio Wall) is a Mexican Mennonite (the film is in the Plautdietsch language). He is a farmer and he has a wife named Esther (Miriam Toews) and many children. But Johan is in love with another woman - Marianne (Maria Pankratz). Adultery is something that is certainly forbidden in this community but Johan just can't help himself.

The film is just stunning to look at. Cinematographer Alexis Zabe does a stunning job of capturing this rural community. The opening shot is of daybreak and the closing shot is of nightfall. The actors are nonprofessionals and fine in their roles. Silent Light is about love, a loss of faith and redemption. It is a spiritual film. Visually the film reminded me a bit of Days of Heaven. And it's themes reminded me of Ingmar Bergman. In fact, I think that most people who love Bergman would love this film.

While I think that Silent Light is a brilliant film I cannot recommend it to everyone. My friend didn't care for it and found it slow moving. But if the description I gave you intrigues you then do go and see the film (and read more about it online). I hope that you have as an amazine cinematic experience as I did.