Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»3228. Silenced (도가니) (2011)

    3228. Silenced (도가니) (2011)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on January 23, 2021 120-129 mins, 2011, 8 - 10, Crime, Drama, Jan 21, Movies Of 2021, Review, South Korea
    8.5 Staggering and sobering
    • Acting 8.4
    • Directing 8.4
    • Story 8.7
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Kim Hyeon-soo

    Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk

    Running Time: 125 mins


    Silenced is a South Korean film about the true story of a teacher at a school for deaf children who uncovers a wave of abuse and sexual assault by staff at the school dating back years.

    A staggering drama based on a devastating true story, Silenced delivers sobering themes and often overwhelming emotional intensity over the course of an enthralling two hours. Bolstered by exceptional performances across the board and directing that hammers home the film’s devastating and deeply passionate main themes, Silenced is a difficult, but undeniably important watch.

    Above all, what makes this film so powerful is its often unrelentingly dark portrayal of a horrifying true story. Silenced makes a major point of the fact that the story it tells was real, in recent memory, and is still unresolved, a degree of passion and urgency that brings an extra level of power to the table.

    Far more than a simple social issue drama or a courtroom drama, the film features a captivating blend of riveting legal intrigue, a sobering look on institutional corruption, and above all a gut-wrenching portrayal of abuse on a systematic scale.

    The film’s first half, in particular, is not for the faint of heart, as it doesn’t hold back from showing the awful nature of the crimes committed, getting under your skin as you witness truly terrible deeds on the part of people who claim to be helping others.

    That plays into the way the film transitions towards a full-blown courtroom drama in its latter stages. Complete with the emotional fervour that the story has given you in wanting to see justice done, the court proceedings are another level of fascinating, as the film begins to tap into a deeply distressing portrayal of how corruption and collusion can stomp all over the truth coming out.

    The fact that the incident this story recounts happened just 6 years before Silenced was released brings a whole new degree of urgency and passion to the table like few other films, and with a well-crafted screenplay, gripping emotional depth and a range of committed, powerful performances, you won’t be able to take your eyes off this incredibly challenging drama.

    The film’s performances are something that mustn’t go unnoticed, as lead actors Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi are filled with raw emotion from start to finish, while young stars Kim Hyeon-soo, Jung In-seo and Baek Seung-hwan are able to really engage with some very difficult and raw themes, delivering some of the best child performances you’ll see on the big screen.

    Meanwhile, Jang Gwang, Kim Joo-ryung and Kim Min-sang, who play the film’s principal villains, really get under your skin as criminals should, further heightening the emotional intensity of this film as you begin to see how even perpetrators of the most heinous of crimes can wriggle their way out of accountability.

    Director Hwang Dong-hyuk helms the film brilliantly throughout, bringing together a rather large cast effectively and ensuring that the story lends enough emotional attention to each and every personality, all the while deepening the film’s overarching sense of dread through the use of dark cinematography, an intense musical score and pitch-perfect pacing that makes Silenced a mesmerising watch.

    Overall, I was stunned by this film. Deeply, deeply distressing to watch at times, the film touches on some devastating themes as it recounts a horrifying true story. However, with fantastic performances, directing and writing, Silenced is an utterly enthralling piece of film, and with such urgent passion behind every moment, it’s fair to say that it’s one of the most important dramas released in recent years. So, that’s why I’m giving it an 8.5.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.2
    Review
    August 5, 20170

    1846. Williams (2017)

    9.6
    Review
    February 16, 20130

    54. Flipped (2010)

    8.1
    Review
    March 29, 20200

    2903. Sisters (1972)

    9.5
    Review
    August 24, 20150

    1067. Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)

    8.4
    Review
    September 28, 20140

    703. Citizen Kane (1941)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.