Silenced (2011) User Reviews (94)

How a movie shape a nation

[Forest-G · 8/10 · 2 August 2015]

God damn it, I shed tears.

there are many sensitive variables that could make people cry in this movie, such as;

It is about children... deaf, mute, orphan, abandoned, abused, raped, dead, need I say more?

I think those reasons are enough to make people shed a tear, if not probably you are an asshole (like me in real life :P).

Once I finished the movie, I felt sad, enrage, and little bit disappointed because there is no justice in the movie (well, what do you expect it's based on real life).

Then I realized how powerful this movie is... and yeah, this movie sparked rage in South Korea public. The public there demanded that this case should be re-open. After this movie the Education ministry demanded more detailed profile and criminal record from every teachers, and they have shut down Inhwa School. The government passed Dogani law (named after this movie). Even the president of South Korea made a comment and stand with public opinion.

For a movie to give such a big impact in a nation is pretty impressive. So yeah, this is one of those rare movie that shape a nation, and made you realized how powerful a movie can be.

Big note: Those child actors are impressive (WOW!!). Their acting is so convincing, they made me ;_:

I am fuming!!

[TheDyingGirl · 9/10 · 28 October 2019]

To think this actually happened in real life makes me so mad. South Korea really needs to have harsher laws against sexual abuse. Even today they still have a long way to go .

A sad movie about injustice

[yasds · 9/10 · 19 September 2012]

The film is based on actual events that happened in Gwang Ju, South Korea. People assume that actual events were dramatized in the film, but apparently the actual events were more heinous than the movie. Gong Yoo read the novel The Crucible/Silenced (Dogani, 2009) while serving his mandatory military service and became involved in the film making.

The child actors were amazing. Because they had to portray deaf and mute children, they had to rely on their facial gestures, sign language, and sounds (cries and screams). They were simply amazing at depicting complex emotions.

Johan Lebbing is wrong. Gong Yoo is not holding a bible at the end of the movie (that would make no sense whatsoever in this movie). He's taking the subway and holding a cake from Tous Les Jours (a Korean boulangerie/patisserie chain) because it's Christmas. He's probably going home to his daughter.

South Korea is pretty lenient with sex offenders in general, and this movie caused an uproar in South Korea about sex crimes.

True story

[0U · 4 February 2020]

I watched the movie twice, and realized it really made me sad every time. The acts was so great, it was so believable, so touching.. I hope more people watch this movie and realize that we can make the world better by helping others.

Move Thee Reviews: Sunny Days Are Rare in the City of Mist

[ken1848 · 10/10 · 24 June 2012]

Sunny and Silenced are two Korean films I have watched in 2012 and both are excellent. Silenced is a poignant and depressing movie based on a true event that happened in a special school where the deaf children are abused by the Principal and teachers. In the first half of the movie, the horrible abuses are unveiled one by one. The second half is a courtroom drama.

The movie is an emotional ride which tugs at your heartstrings. At the scene in which the teacher is on the verge of tears and the boy cries his eyes out and struggles to express his overwhelming pent-up emotions upon knowing that his grandmother has forgiven the culprit, some members of the audience will be moved to tears. Where might is master, justice is servant, which is cruel, but real. It is also uplifting to see the teacher remain steadfast in his determination to bring the culprits to justice, despite his daughter's plight.

As for the setting, the misty mountains and creepy campus create an eerie atmosphere. I also love the montage at the beginning of the movie. The kid is just like the deer, innocent and pure.

The perversion of justice prevails when Christians are blinded by their unquestionable faith, teachers are heartless, policemen, lawyers, the judge and the security guard are corrupted by money, civil servants shirk their responsibility and shift the work onto others and others remain silent. Martin Luther King is right. In the end, we remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Amid those humans who are evil but influential in society, justice is shrouded in a thick gray mist.

A true story filmed as a masterpiece.

[j-lebbing3-1 · 10/10 · 21 May 2012]

Watched "Silenced" here on DVD with English subtitles. Didn't really know what to expect from the film before going in, but came out shaken, angered and left with the feeling of having seen a powerful film that can bring about positive change. The basis for the movie is purported to be based on a true story which makes things all the more striking. Having not watched "Children..." a Korean movie that came out earlier this year also based on a true story, my closest point of reference is Bong Joon-Ho's by now classic film "Memories of Murder". "Silenced" doesn't possess the master of cinema feel that "Memories of Murder" has, nor does it have the first mover advantage in its story, but "Silenced" is able to deliver the same (if not more) type of jolt to the viewer which is really saying something.

Some criticism I had for the film were 2 scenes felt just too graphic and a few other times the movie seemed to carry a far too simpleton feel, but in hindsight I'm guessing both of these points originated from the filmmaker's desire to have maximum impact with the largest group possible. In that case, the filmmaker got his wish. While walking out of the theater I did feel energized from having watched something so moving and also filled with fear & anger at just how wicked some parts of society can become.

Performance wise, I thought Gong Yoo was good and Jung Yu-Mi was her usual great self. There was a final scene with Gong Yoo holding a bible in the middle of the street that didn't move me as much as I thought the scene wanted. Maybe I was just too exhausted from having witnessed humanity at its darkest hour prior to that. The movie also featured large amounts of court-room drama in the second half which I really enjoyed.

"Silenced" has already brought in a lot of people into the theaters in South Korea and also opened a lot of eyes to the injustices that occurred in South Korea just a few years ago (2005). I think "Silenced" is a film that will likely leave you in a state that only a few others films probably can. Be prepare to be moved when you watch it.

One of the most potent film ever seen.

[ajit2106 · 8/10 · 25 June 2012]

"Silenced..." as the title suggests, is a powerful film about a mute and deaf school in Gwangju (South Korea).

In 2005 Kang In-ho arrives at a school where children are deaf, but quickly realizes that something is wrong, as children were cloistered in a kind of autism. The reason is simple; they are suffering from pain through twin-principals and other teachers. Kang In-ho, first was blind towards the horrible acts, however, he wakes up very quickly and puts his life in the background to devote him entirely to these children in the deepest distress.

Written and directed by filmmaker Dong-hyuk Hwang, who runs his second coil after My Father (2007), based on the novel by Jee-young Cong taking Novel in one hand and camera in the other, Hwang Dong-hyuk takes us into a hell where cruelty is watchword. Men who abuse children are already a disgrace, but when equipped with a handicap that prevents them to express them while we pass this stage to speak only to be demonic. Moreover, work is in addition to killing these demons, exposing South Korea where levels of justice are rotten to the point that despite overwhelming evidence, everyone comes out innocent or at worst a slight slap on the wrist. Such injustice deserved to talk about it, and if the literature does not always express them on a large scale, the cinema can more easily, and in 2011 the film has been a blow, pushing the government to close the school and start a new trial.

Hwang Dong-hyuk, who directs his cast with strength and power, conveys a strong message with an eye opener. We can feel the players involved, everyone is in the place and nobody is ever too much, especially children, crying for truth, despite their silence, but the look says a lot about the work of management. No melodramatic pathos, not only the accuracy enhanced by fluid narration and exciting, equally divided between face to face with the horror and the trial, or rather mock trial. The director also quite unsettling talent to film scenes touching, working the image at the point of giving an atmosphere of morbid poetry returning the stomach (although almost everything is hidden), to the Unlike scenes about bullying that they go into bestiality at the lowest.

Silenced is a work that takes you to the gut, but also a masterpiece at all levels, sad, very sad, because during filming (like writing a book) hopelessness was most certainly in the spirit all, nobody is expecting that the film can shake rotten legal foundation at this point to the bone. The arrival of this film is welcome, but it remains a work paradoxically awful cinematic should play a social role, rape, torture, and death stories of children who have so far had very little impact. We think Hwang Dong-hyuk has done considerable work, but we also think these children whose childhood or life, were stolen.

The story is very centered and never leaves its intention, as I said earlier it is based on the true story, we can feel the sufferings of the characters.

This is a take on the human with animal instinct and the actions will shake the base of humanity.

Recommended to everyone who can digest the kinky truth.

9/10

Type of movie that will make you sick, but, you have to watch anyway!.

[cremea · 8/10 · 15 September 2012]

Silenced (aka the Crucible) is a 2011 South Korean film that is not really an easy watch. It's quite good for the most part, but it will leave a bad taste in your mouth for sure. I do recommend watching it, but with the caveat that it will pretty much spoil your evening afterwards. So, you've been warned!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

I have a number of general rules that I try to live by, which allow me to go about my life in a civilized society with a clear conscience. These rules include simple mundane courtesies like saying thank you or opening the door for little old ladies or not flipping the bird to that idiot who doesn't know how to drive, to more serious matters like not disrupting someone else's marriage or abusing animals for kicks or cheating someone out of their life savings (which would, incidentally, be quite easy to do in my line of work). My list of rules escalate to not hurting people, but the list has always topped out with the following: DO NOT PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, OR SEXUALLY ABUSE CHILDREN!

If you don't know already, this movie is all about breaking my "golden rule" stated above. A school chock full of deviant teachers, principals, and employees, which has been systematically and repeatedly raping, beating, and torturing the child students there on a wide scale. To make matters worse (if that's possible), is the fact that this is a school for the deaf & mute, and that many of these children are from broken homes, are orphaned, poor, etc.

To top it off, this movie is based on a true story (a thought, which frankly, I could not get out of my head while watching the thing). Now, I'm not privy as to what was depicted in the movie is actually factual, or what amount of dramatic license was invoked, or what have you. But even if the tiniest bit of any of this is even remotely true, the, I am utterly disgusted. Sadly however, I am no longer surprised by hearing stories like this in the world I live in.

As for the movie itself, it basically revolves around a new teacher who comes to the school and soon uncovers the abuses within. He and a human rights activist he gets to know begin to work to help the children in harm's way, and to punish those involved with the crimes. It's a straight up drama story line and courtroom procedural for the most part. There's little to no action or vengeance involved, and it's not anywhere near as graphic as it might have been (considering the subject matter) if this were part of some other type of film genre.

Production, pacing, and story are all solid enough. Acting is pretty strong throughout (particularly from the children, which had to be bit uncomfortable, performance wise, for them). There's a side story involving the new teacher's child, which quickly takes a back seat to the primary plot point, along with the hinting of a budding relationship between said teacher and the activist. Aside from that, this film focuses almost exclusively on the evil deed at hand, what will be done about it once uncovered, and what efforts the community will go to in order to just make this all go away as quickly & quietly as possible. Oh, and this IS a Korean production, so (SUPER SPOILERS), you might not want to get your hopes up for the happiest of endings.

Bottom line: It's in the 7-8 out of 10 stars range for me. I'll give it an 8, because it is stuck in my brain (at least for now) after watching it, and it was well done overall. And, after all, isn't that what watching cinema is all about?...If you want any type of a remotely "feel good/good time flick", watch something else!...but, if you're in the right mood to watch a solid and effecting drama about a sad and horrible topic, than this film comes fairly well recommended by yours truly!

Misery Market

[anthonyjlangford · 7/10 · 31 August 2020]

A well made film, not for the squeamish and difficult to watch. A harrowing true story with some sad insights into the archaic Korean justice system. I sincerely hope things have changed since the events in this story took place.

My problem with the film is it makes obvious and elongated efforts to drag out the misery. Cheesy music plays and characters move in slow motion. The events are already horrible. Dressing it up in such a fashion is effective at times, but over the top and a little corny for the most part. It devalues the story. Oscar worthy, it is not.

There is also little let up. It's wall to wall misery. A well made film, worth watching for its content, if you don't mind the obvious attempts to stretch out the pain, as if there wasn't enough already.

a harrowing and emotionally exhausting movie

[aminifatimaaa · 10/10 · 25 March 2019]

Silenced is a mixing pot of emotions; one full of hope, resentment, depression but ultimately injustice. There are many films made to impress viewers but this one is among the few, not just to impress you, but to deeply disturb you. It makes you crave for nothing but human dignity and fairness. The film had me stunned with astonishing performances especially the three brilliant child actors who perfectly portrayed their characters. Silenced is a bold piece of modern Korean cinema that should be seen by everyone.

good acting but....

[Eneser66 · 6/10 · 3 April 2022]

First of all the kids in this movie act very well for their age The adults also deliver a good performance

But the disturbing part for me is, that they used real kids for NSFW scenes. A Scene where the old man takes shower with a boy and washes his butt, or a rape scene where a kids clothes are ripped brutally off. Couldn't they just leave those scenes and don't involve kid actors?

Good vs Evil In The Real World. . . An Oscar Worthy Film!

[gbjay · 10/10 · 13 December 2012]

While the Story, the Theme is reprehensible, the Art in Film-making; being able to articulate emotions, actions, reactions, in a fashion that others --viewers -- not associated will feel, be stirred, outraged by the monstrous behavior, is the hallmark of an excellent production!

Having been orphaned as a child, I know all too well the horrors, cover-ups, lies, and willful deceit that insidious practitioners of corruption perform, and how the tentacles of their evil deeds navigate and manipulate. The Director, Writer, Actors, Cinematographers and entire Production company have done a fine job of crafting in a way that eliminates the language barrier, and reaches into the minds, and hearts of their audience. Ten out of Ten Stars for motion picture perfection... --GBJ

Emotionally exhaustive and draining.

[Zi_Reviews_Movies · 7/10 · 11 September 2022]

My rating is lesser than most viewers but I have an explanation. The movie is really good, no doubt. It claws where required, tugs at your heart and leaves you in a pool of tears. You'll begin to question the world, religion, people and the list goes on. It will leave you with the right questions, questions you'll never find answers to. And that's what really good movies do.

The children aced their roles. They were convincing and powerful. I don't know how some scenes were enacted and I don't want to find out. Whereas, the lead actor, Gong Yoo seemed a bit even-tempered for the role, a little too mellow and that took away from the movie. There were some unnecessary moments with music and slow shots that could be avoided. Some scenes that could be left to the imagination, dragged on.

The story is unnerving and one the world deserved to know. It had a lot of potential that didn't make its way to the screen, but I definitely don't want anybody to remake this story.

P.s - This horrific tale is based on a true story.

Extremely disturbing

[senayapar · 1/10 · 14 February 2022]

Was it really necessary to shoot certain scenes like this? It was like child pornography, I was so uncomfortable watching it. It's nice to want to highlight important issues, but it is also child abuse to shoot these scenes in this way!

Silenced : It was very, very unfair to these molested kids

[forlornnesssickness · 9/10 · 14 June 2014]

What happened to the kids is something you hear from the media with disbelieving eyes. We usually ask ourselves; how could the people commit such horrible deeds? Can that really happen in our society? Though the movie is the fiction based on the bestseller novel written by Gong Jee- young, the novel itself was based on the real-life incident reported by the South Korean media in 2005. As depicted in the movie, it drew lots of attention from the people at that time, and there was the trial for this heinous crime later – but that was not the end of the story and there are still scars remained.

When we meet In-ho(Gong Yoo) for the first time, he is coming to the local area named Mujin as the new art teacher of the boarding school for the deaf students. While his daughter is taken care of by his mother in Seoul(his wife was dead), he lives alone in some shabby apartment. He does not particularly like his new job, but he needs a job for earning the money for his sick daughter. When the principle and the administration supervisor, the principle's twin brother(both are played by Jang Gwang), demand In-ho to pay the considerable amount of money as the contribution for "school development fund" on his first day, he accepts their demand without question. It is not right thing to do, but he has no choice if he wants to keep his job.

However, it turns out that is not the only thing he has to deal with while working at this school. He sees one of the teachers savagely beating one of his students in the teachers' office while other teachers ignore the abuse being committed right in front of them. At one night, he hears a strange sound from the ladies' room when he is about to leave. He tries to find out who is behind the bathroom door, but he is soon interrupted by the night guard, who assures him that nothing happens. Later, he witnesses the other teacher abusing the other student with the washing machine at the basement – while the washing machine is turned on.

If you have some knowledge about the South Korean society, you will probably have some good idea about what will happen next. In-ho and Yu- jin want these disgusting people to be arrested, but, as shown in his expensive office, the principle is a well-respected member of the local society. He is also an elder of the local church(that means we will see some unpleasant side of Korean Christians), and he has some powerful connections to the local authorities. On the day when he comes to the office for the giving the money for the school development fund, In-ho happens to see a local cop stopping by the school for his money. Even when they try to report this crime to the other local government officials, they ignore them with bureaucratic indifference while saying it is not their job due to the jurisdiction rule.

Eventually, after the kids' story goes out on TV, the principle and others are quickly arrested and the trial soon follows, but In-ho and Yu-jin find themselves more helpless as the time goes by. The kids are willing to testify what happened to them, and there are some evidences to support their testimonies, but it is possible that their abusers will not be properly punished in the end. The counsel for the accused, a former law official, is well-connected to judges and prosecutors; as a custom inside the South Korean justice system, they give some advantages to him because it is his first trial after leaving his office. The kids' parents are poor or disabled, so they can be easily persuaded to withdraw the suit on the behalf of their children. They even approach to In-ho, who has been in financially difficult situation.

The director Hwang Dong-hyeock wisely does not hurry his story. While providing the good atmosphere with the hazy fog covering the town, he effectively conveys the frustration inside the story. Though his character is rather bland and passive, Gong Yoo does a passable job as an ordinary man who tries to do the right thing while knowing that there is little he can do for the abused kids. Jeong Yu-mi is trapped in her flat character who mostly functions as the mouthpiece of the story, but she does as much as she can.

The movie is not free from its flaws. Despite its good intention, it sometimes stumbles with a heavy-handed approach. While the villains are played effectively by good actors, they are just mean and despicable in one-dimensional way. They seem to come from the other movie whenever confronting the other characters. The court scenes have some awkwardness although it is less stiff than other South Korean movies featuring the court scenes. The finale is overlong and a little too melodramatic while emphasizing the characters' bitterness they have to face at the end of their struggle.

Nevertheless, "Silenced" has enough power to draw you into its anger, and you will identify with its indignation toward the unfairness in South Korean society. As reflected in the epilogue in the movie, the abusers were only sentenced to light punishment, and they did not even go to the jail. How could they let that happen? Will such a horrible thing happen again? Sad thing is, it is really hard for us to prevent the world from changing ourselves, let alone change the world.

A Painfully True Event That Must be Watched

[Geeta352 · 10/10 · 22 July 2019]

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent! I am a new found fan of Gong Yoo (Goblin) and find his performances in most of his movies to be outstanding and memorable. He did not disappoint me when I finally purchased a copy of Silenced (2011) since it isn't available in the USA online or even through Raukuten/Viki network. This film is a fictionalized version of an actual ongoing tragedy that took place at a school for Deaf children in South Korean. Without revealing too much about the story, let it be said that the gross indifference, coverup, hypocrisy, and injustice portrayed in the film will move you to tears and then to anger. The stellar performances by Gong Yoo, Jung Yu Mi, and the child actors will linger in your mind long after the movie credits fade from your screen. Kudos to everyone associated with this sad but needful film. Be sure to have a box of tissues near by; you will definitely need them.

Where is justice? - Movie too powerful

[Alan_H4 · 9/10 · 28 March 2015]

This movie is incredibly powerful, at some points i couldn't hold my tears.

The movie has portrayed true events in a masterfully done way. The cinematography/atmosphere and the music are superb.

This movie really made me sad and angry at the world at the same time. At some points in the movie i wished i could be there and take a gun and take justice in to my own hands.It portraits the true nature of how evil and disgusting human beings can be. The sheer fact that the system and those who "abide" the law are corrupt, and still manage not to give a damn about what happened to those children, is beyond my understanding.The movie got me frustrated at many points and i just wanted to punch the protagonist in the face for not taking justice in to his own hands. You see evil in front of you and you see that the majority of the people running the system, the laws are bad and corrupt, and you think by yourself, why not punish all those evil bastards? and i don't care how it is done, as long as they get punished.

At some point one gets the realization that there is no hope in this world. Our society is run by sociopaths and psychopaths. It shows that money can do anything, and that human life and a child's innocence means nothing to those in power. I'm really angry after watching this movie and so sad at the same time... i can't keep getting this movie out of my head.

This movie deserves an Oscar and should be seen by everyone!

8.8/10

Powerful and compelling

[findwilliams · 9/10 · 28 September 2013]

I recently became a fan of Yoo Gong and followed the links to this film, unlike anything I expected but so intense that I found myself yelling at the screen during certain scenes. Yoo Gong's performance caused one of those reactions, when he snapped and went after the jerk in the hall and I gave a shout and a fist pump. Then all I could do was watch and shrink from the madness that ensued. Too real, too raw, particularly if you are a parent. Still I'm glad the horrifying acts of the evildoers came to light, even if they weren't punished in the way I wished. A huge thank you to the writer and to those who acted to make the film. Change begins with awareness.

Definitely not for children!

[paulclaassen · 6/10 · 19 June 2019]

Wow, what a well made and disturbing film. The film sends a very powerful message and also effectively illustrates manipulation, bribery, and abuse of power, believing money can right all wrongs.

Although the film is a bit slow moving, it was never boring. I did, however, find the protagonist Kang In-ho (Yoo Gong) a bit too passive. Seo Yoo-jin was a much stronger character, portrayed by Yu-mi Jung - who did a very good job. The child actors were also good and I enjoyed their back stories, as well. The film is sexually graphic at times (involving children) and definitely not suitable for a young audience.

Based on fact, this is a very disturbing film and the reality of the case is cringe worthy. At the time the film was made, the actual case was still in progress, so the true fate of all involved is not exactly known. As it is, this was not the ending I expected.

Maybe the Best Movie I have Seen - From Any Country

[rpannier · 10/10 · 3 October 2011]

Gang In-ho takes a job working at a school for the hearing impaired in Gwangju. The movie opens with him driving to the school (and having an accident) about the same time as a young boy from the school commits suicide by walking in front of a train. From almost the beginning of his time at the school, he notices that something seems out of kilter. The school seems almost dark and unfeeling. The students not particularly friendly and one teacher is just damned mean. The movie focuses on two sisters, one of whom is especially stand-offish and the other, unfriendly and with issues about eating and their brother who seems to be bloodied and bruised worse every time he comes to class.

We eventually learn that the two girls are being abused physically and sexually by the Principal and the Asst Principal with the knowledge of one female teacher, the security guard, a local police officer and at least one staff member (who is abusing the boy both physically and sexually)

The teacher enlists the help of Seo Yu-jin, a human rights activist to help the children (and him) Initially they find little support for their cause. The police are totally disinterested in what Yu-jin tells them. Partially because here in Korea making the establishment look bad is not something people do readily and partially because the police officer is a fairly high ranking figure within the department. Finally, they turn to YTN News. And a reporter does an interview with the children that is seen on TV throughout Korea. The police reluctantly spring into action and arrest the principal, asst principal and the teacher -- no one else. The movie then moves onto the second trial. The children are 'raped' again, this time by members of the establishment.

The Superintendent for Public Instruction and the defense lawyer try to bribe the teacher into ending the case. When he refuses, they pay off the aged and mentally feeble grandmother of the children. The local evangelical community rallies to the defense of the principal. The prosecutor seems to be on the side of justice, but in the end, it appears he left the children hanging out to dry.

The movie is extremely graphic and painful. The rape scenes are not glossed over and the physical abuse of the oldest brother is difficult to watch. But more painful, is the end of the trial where the audience is left frustrated, angry and saddened by the way these three children (and their dead brother) are left with nothing even remotely resembling justice. What makes this hard to take is that, while the movie is based on the events, the events still happened and they were as horrid as the movie describes. And were it not for the book and this movie some of these people would have continued with their lives as if nothing had happened. A definite 10.

Sad and frustrating

[alevberlin · 6/10 · 15 March 2023]

It is a very sad story. Knowing that it was based on a true story is very frustrating. What makes me also angry is that by making this film a little boy was really got molested, touched on places shouldn't be touched :((( It shouldn't be allowed to make scenes like this. He couldn't protect himself right, so where were his parents, why did they allow this and if he did not have any parents, then what is the difference from what happened back in this story and what happened by making this film to this child? :/ :(((

Other than that the film was well done. The children were acting very well, I believed them.

Another heart-wrenching and disturbing classic with Korean Realism. It proves again that Law & Justice is nothing but a big joke in real life.

[SAMTHEBESTEST · 8/10 · 4 July 2021]

Do-ga-ni / Silenced (2013) : Brief Review -

Another heart-wrenching and disturbing classic with Korean Realism. It proves again that Law & Justice is nothing but a big joke in real life. Based on real events, Silence depicts the story of a school for the hearing-impaired where young deaf students girls and boys both were sexually assaulted by the faculty members over a long period of time. Don't tell me that reading this don't leave your mind disturbed. I have always admired the level of Brutalism and Realism in Korean films but earlier most of the times it was about thriller and revenge dramas. Now, I admire Korean Realism for showing the Cruel and brutal true events happened in the society and how helpless victims can be. You know i sometimes believe that this Law & Justice looks effective and useful only in reel world. Just like any fictional piece of writing, cops and court would do correct justice. But in real life it doesn't happen like that and this film proves it. Not just this, i have seen two more films just recently to prove it. 'Miracle In Cell No. 7', 'Hope' and now this 'Silenced' have convinced me to believe so. In all three films we see the wrong side of Law & Justice and we hate it like anything. Silenced is more brutal because it shows the cruelty against children, not adults. This was before Hollywood made Oscar Winning 'Spotlight' (2015), a film based on sensitive and taboo subject like spiritual abuse. Here, it was child abuse with more cruelty and few unbearable visuals. The film breaks the silence on one of the most serious crime ever done in the society but the punishment for it is not at all acceptable. Acting, writing, screenplay, background score, cinematography, dialogues and direction everything about this film is perfect. Overall, another mind-shattering Classic with uncompromised cinematic vision.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Before Squid Game...

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 5 November 2021]

Something very different from the creator of SQUID GAME, but no less hard hitting. Tough to enjoy this one, as it's a true story detailing child rape and other abuse in a school for the deaf, but it's undeniably engrossing and very well made, just as you'd expect from Korea. Gong Yoo holds together an extraordinary ensemble cast, and in particular the child actors go above and beyond here. Like SPOTLIGHT, it's a story that needs to be heard.

It could have been so much more

[ridhirkn · 1/10 · 17 November 2021]

This is a movie that could have been great but wasn't. By talking about peadophiles, somehow the movie is going to benefit them. It's too graphic and end on a note that shows the wrong people winning. I am a Big fan of Gong Yoo and he has done a good job. But fear is something to be felt Not shown. Leaving those heart wrenching scenes to the imagination would have been better than serving a gold mine to the pervs around the world.

What Is Wrong With People?!

[Foutainoflife · 8/10 · 1 November 2021]

Let me just say that while watching this, I would've happily given up my front row seat in Hell to have been there when these innocent children were being so viciously abused. Wigs would've be snatched and grills thoroughly cleaned!

The utter cruelty, entitlement and depravity of these individuals is absolutely unforgivable. The people who let them get away with it are just as disgusting for sacrificing justice for the victims for their own personal gain.

It's a good movie that you are going to hate watching.