El Suspiro del Silencio

This is one of those films that draws you in as you learn more about each character and their story and how they relate to each other. The suspense grows as each relationship continues to change. The story allows each character to have depth so their words carry more meaning which helped me become immersed in the wonderous and stunning landscape of El Salvador. It felt like a fresh dimension of wonder and excitement. The actors were superb and led by the main character, Josefina, played by Laura Osma. I think this movie is a triumph for the director, Alfonso Quijada. He has brought to life the story of women suffering in the coffee fields of El Salvador even as they continue to follow their dreams and passions.

"The beast has run over, under its rough hair, the tremulous little body, soft as a fleece; and has ground the flesh, and ground the bones, and has squeezed the heart like a cherry..." Gabriela Mistral

This is how the film "The whisper of Silence" directed by Alfonso Quijada begins, which not only has a plot of deep current sensitivity, but also a Salvadoran cast of excellence. Cinema as a means of transforming society takes effect when the stories manage to touch the human fiber that makes us connect with what is presented and "The whisper of Silence", is just that: from independent cinema a proposal that invites the transformation of violence against women, in particular, the sexual violations that still happen in the world.

Adding to history the magic of the smells, the landscapes, the flavors through coffee tasting, places us in a permanent imaginative tension of sensoriality, being a key element because culturally these elements mark life. And it is that "The whisper of silence" presents us with all this into the story, that mixture of structural and cultural themes that are part of Latin America. Thank you, Alfonso, for placing this issue of violence as a photograph to be changed. Thank you for challenging our memories, our senses, our intellect, and our consciousness.

There are remnants of a good film in there, but 'The Whisper of Silence' is ultimately boring viewing.

One or two moments piqued my interest, though for the vast majority of these 90 or so minutes I was super unintrigued by events onscreen (or lack thereof). The main plot is literally about coffee tasting (!), the filmmakers were evidently going for the artsy approach but boy does it feel like a waste of screen time. The subplot with Alfredo at least offers something to watch with interest.

With all that said, I will say that I did actually like Laura Osma in the lead role. She has a great acting face, I know that's a weird thing to say but what I mean is I can see her acting in something like a bloody horror flick and killing it. Unfortunately, here, Osma doesn't have much to work with; in that sense, she actually does quite well.

This picture does admirably end with a stark message about women's rights, so that's something. Strictly as a movie: disappointing.

This film captures your attention right from the opening scene. The beautiful landscape, the sounds, the music and the cinematography keep you engaged and wanting more. The film is very well cast and some excellent performances. I can see why Laura Osma has won awards for her performance. She is able to be powerful, yet sensitive and vulnerable. There is a strong arc to her performance and we see the character grow. As a young filmmaker, Alfonso Quijada shows great maturity in being able to weave these stories together taking us through twists and turns while keeping us intrigued and wanting more. The ending will surprise you. It caught me by surprise. Very well done and worth watching. You won't be disappointed!

El Suspiro del Silencio is a cinematic poem tainted with harsh reality. Set against the coffee culture, the lead actress, Josefina, inspires us to believe in ourselves; her instincts and her incredible gift take her into new opportunities in the world of tasting coffee; finding light despite the terrible situations she has gone through. The film shows two sides of a reality that is difficult to overcome, on one side the evil of a man who rips her life apart - contrasted with men who inspire and support her, and a brother struggling to avenge her. El Suspiro del Silencio leaves us breathless at the end, struggling with darkness but yet we identified horribly with it. The film manages to connect with the deepest feelings of the audience and inspired me to speak against this awful situations taking place globally.