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Saved by sex and klezmer >> Beyond Silence is a deaf-iant coming of age by ANNIE ILKOW
Beyond Silence offers a twist to the tale; the gifted musician in this case is the hearing child of deaf parents. Nominated for an Oscar this year for Best Foreign Film, Beyond Silence is a German production in which a talented young woman drives a wedge between herself and her deaf parents with a clarinet. Part deaf-awareness campaign (the Germans are extremely lame when it comes to even recognizing sign language as legitimate) and part coming-of-age story, the film uses the struggle of the hearing to understand the deaf (and vice-versa) as a metaphor for a child's quest for independence from her parents. Young Lara (played with adult knowingness by newcomer Tatjana Trieb) must bridge the gap between two worlds--that of her parents (Emmanuelle Laborit and American deaf actor Howie Seago, last seen shtupping Deanna Troy on Star Trek: Next Generation) and the world of the hearing. When Lara's aunt gives her a clarinet for her birthday, Lara is made to choose between a life of music and her parents' love. The problem with building this kind of conflict isn't that we don't feel for the father's isolation; he depends on her completely. But his selfish determination to forbid Lara's passion seems childish, turning his deafness into an emotional handicap. Clearly the film is rooting for the next, less-bitter generation, both hearing and deaf. As an adult, Lara's (Sylvie Testud) determination is put to the test when she must decide whether to leave her role of caretaker and assume her identity as a musician at school in Berlin. Fate intervenes in the form of powers much greater than any filial bond: klezmer music and sex. Deeply stirred by both, Lara finds her own path and through personal tragedy bridges the gap between her childhood and adulthood. If the musical coming-of-age stuff sounds a bit déjà entendu, Beyond Silence is still worth watching. It is sweet, well-acted and shows sensitivity toward a little-understood segment of society. (The popularity of the film in Germany has compelled its legislature to enact changes regarding the rights of the deaf.) And there are some wonderful if campy moments, including a signed version of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and the addition of "I want schnitzel!" to the vocabulary of late-night munchies. Clearly a reaction to the wave of crap comedy that German cinema has been awash in for years, Beyond Silence is a plea for more sober drama, more understanding and more klezmer. Beyond Silence opens this Friday. See repertory listings for showtimes
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What is it with films about musicians? Why are all the fathers unhinged jealous lunatics? From Amadeus to Shine, it seems that having musically gifted child will drive you nuts.