“The Silent Child” (2017) by Chris Overton

A deaf 6-year-old girl named Libby lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker gives her the gift of communication.

This week’s featured short film offers us a chance to briefly step out of our own realities and step into the isolated life of a young deaf girl. The story is set in a middle-class family in rural England, and is inspired by real life events. Through this one girl’s story, the makers of the film hope to bring to light systemic problems related to deafness.

The story effectively communicates the power of empathy and connection, while also showing us what life looks like without them. Though this film follows conventions of mainstream cinema more than any of our previous selections, it is the novelty of its approach to a sensitive issue that piqued our interest.

‘The Silent Child’ is director Chris Overton’s directorial debut and went on to win an Academy Award for Best Short in 2018.