The Quiet Room

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.

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.

This movie opened my eyes and got me down to a 7 year old's level. Actually I should say up to a 7 year old's level, in this movie the adults seemed more childish than the child!

It was great to see life in a not so harmonious household from the child's point of view! So many things I've heard myself say to my own child, the mother in the film said and I swear I will always think before speaking to my kids!

It's a very original and thought provoking movie - I recommend it to everyone!

This movie is GREAT! It has a very unique point of view, learning about divorce through the eyes of a child. The audience is given the ability to read the childs mind, in a sense, because she is unable to speak. Very much worth watching!!

I was glad to notice a movie by Rolf de Heer in the TV guide, since I really liked his "Bad Boy Bubby". But this was a totally different movie. It's about a girl who decides not to speak to her parents anymore to get them closer together since their marriage is not what it once was. But what I really wanted to point out is the use of colors in this movie.

I didn't see it at first but there are two main colors used to indicate the mood of the people. Blue points out a very sad mood, whereas red points out the opposite, happiness. Notice the extremely red sweater the girl is suddenly wearing near the end of the movie...