La habitación silenciosa

I found a used copy of this on ebay and bought it because I saw Bad Boy Bubby (one of Rolf's earlier films) and loved it. While it was completely different, I enjoyed it just as much as I did Bubby.

I've read other users complain of how De Heer spells out everything in his films and doesn't give the viewers a chance to pick up on things for themselves... When this movie started, I felt the same way but soon got used to it and was able to look past it. The film is about a girl who decided to quit talking, but we hear narration through out the film, answering all of her parents questions, etc. More silence might have made for a better film, but it also could have made it a bit more boring. It did drag a bit as is, but the girl was great in the movie (even her stupid rhymes) and I couldn't stop watching.

Being a child of divorce, one of the fight scenes hit a little close to home. I remember feeling exactly as the girl did when it happened in my family, covering my head trying to block it out, crying etc. This movie took me right back to those times, like it or not.

I liked how none of the characters had names and also how small the cast was. The movie works because of how simple it was. I'm curious to see more of Rolf's films now, too bad none of the rental stores here carry any of his stuff.

Check out my video Session on The Quite Room on the Substack account, " Art Direction Sessions for Film".

I was first introduced to Rolf de Heer's work at an annual film festival that I attended every year in Prague. The film was called Bad Boy Bubby and I was totally blown away with everything about it. I decided in that moment I would try and see as much of the Australian director's work as I could, which brings me to another of his gems, The Quiet Room.

It tells the story from the point of view of an unnamed seven year old girl who's struggling to make sense of her parents deteriorating relationship. To cope, she remains silent, where we enter her simpleworld and gaze into the camera; for her voice reflects her inner feelings while her expressive face speaks volumes.

I read that just prior to shooting this film in the 90s that de Heer was in a jam, he needed money fast for his next month's rent. Regardless of not knowing what he'd come up with, he convinced his producers to put feelers out for funding a low budget film. He ultimately came up with enough dough to make something, but the question that kept stirring his creative juices was how to include his two young daughters, whom he desperately want to spend more time with. Well, to cast them as characters, of course!

De Heer had to get savvy with his storytelling, being his girls were amateurs and the schedule was tight. So he opted to tell a difficult story from the child's perspective, where she would take a vow of silence amid her parent's turmoil.

Shot entirely in only 2 rooms, the design elements subtly pull some aspects of the story from the outside. But logistically, de Heer was weary of choosing a "kitchen" or "living room" for these rooms both seemed appealing.. but so much of family-life centers around these spaces, he didn't want to fall into the same ol' recycled cliches... like "putting on the kettle" or "burning the dinner in the oven" or the child "sitting on the floor glued to the TV-screen".

Without the hassle of permits, extras, transport or unpredictable weather, the film was shot entirely on a small studio adjacent to de Heer's office.

The film would later go on to be selected at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.

So what 2 rooms did he choose in his small studio space? How did the 'deliberately mute' daughter-character find visual means to portray how she felt about her quarreling parents? This and certain design elements are the theme of this Session.

This film is a perfect model of what a filmmaker can pull off on a shoestring budget. Low budget does not have to mean low standards, if you think (and direct) outside the box.

I wish that I had been able to view this movie before my divorce. Perhaps I would have been better able to understand what my children were going through instead of just the pain of loss, fear, anger, and confusion that they certainly must have felt.

We as adults must learn to understand that our children too have feelings and need to be heard as well as understood when we as adults go about changing their lives without first doing everything to keep our families intact.

This movie through the eyes and voice of a silent child was insightful and and I think that every adult should view it before going about destroying their lives as well as the lives of their children.

It was this movie which really opened my eyes to the possibilities of one movie can bring.

This is a masterpiece which really brings up the feelings, I mean that sort of tension without word. The girl simply closes herself off, while she wants to speak, in her heart, but none of her parents understand.

I was very touched by this movie this is a very great piece of work by Rolf, a classic, I'm looking forward to see "The old man who read love stories" and more of his work in the future.

I'd recommend this movie to absolutely everyone, be warned though you have to be more patience while watching.

1st watched 10/15/1999 - 8 out of 10(Dir-Rolf De Heer): Excellent story of a child's perspective on life with parents who are having a hard time making things work.Definetly not a hollywood movie, but rather a slice of real life.Why can't us Americans make more time for movie's like this?(This film is Australian made.)