Wonderfully offbeat film!

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

If you have seen the excellent French Thriller "Tell No One" and was captivated as I was, then you will enjoy this movie. The subject matter, though, is very, very hard to swallow. I actually had to fast forward for a few merciful seconds in a few parts. I just can't stand seeing kids raped and murdered, no matter how artistic or ambiguous the scene is. So, you should fast forward too, and then enjoy this awesome and endlessly engaging movie. The ambiance, the script and the acting make you feel as though are there, in it, as it is happening. Unlike prisoners, which was good, no doubt about it, this movie takes the genre to a whole new level (a side-note: why is it that Hollywood always rips away the gritty realism of the thing into a showcase for superstars and formula? European films are not like this). This movie takes the relationship to time with respect efficacy, you are never confused about what is then and what is now. A great film, I would give it a ten, but that is reserved for a The Godfather.

To start off, I have absolutely no knowledge of German cinema, however, The Silence is a film that made me want to get into German cinema. It is THAT good. The film follows the lives of people connected to a serial killer who rapes and murders young women. After fifteen years without a trace, the killer begins to kill again. As the film progresses, we follow the family of the victim, the police investigating and the killer himself. With every twist and turn this film goes on, it makes for a thoroughly enjoyable and emotionally taxing watch that you're bound to be talking about after the end credits roll. The film stars German actors who, besides a couple bouts of poor subtitle dialog, do an amazing job capturing the authenticity that goes into situations like this. Many films have been touching base on pedophilia and the abduction of children in the past. Such films as In Her Skin and Prisoners come to mind but The Silence is a film that does it in such a way that it gives humanity to all of its characters, even the killer. It's very rare that you're able to actually reason with a character so dark and vile, it truly makes you feel disgusted especially during some of the darker scenes such as a rape scene in the beginning of the film. What this film does beautifully is takes the darkest and most evil event that could happen in someone's life and captures it on screen but it doesn't glorify it. It shows how it truly is, an act of evil done by a despicable man, we don't see an up, close and personal sequence of the rape, we see it through tall grass. Its scenes like this that capture the essence of this film. Its dark, brutal and depressing but it is still a great film nonetheless that keeps you guessing until the very end. I highly recommend it.

being a fan of Ulrich Thomsen i knew this film would be good. the story of course is first rate but the cinematography and locations used instantly create a suspension of disbelief.to me the silence is about obsession and loneliness, not just for the criminals, but every prominent supporting cast member's role. the original crime wasn't just the crime but the obsession with impressing his new friend. of course his new friend was impressed just in an unexpected manner.years of silence and toil and shame and denial and obsession later and a dark plan is hatched. highly recommend watching a couple of times, even more intense the second time.

Oh dear. Germany has produced quite a few films like this. They contain long, long silences, which are meant to be artistic and profound. In fact, the result is often boredom, and perhaps even worse than that, a lack of proper development of the situation, the characters and the plot. It's as if any German (or Swiss, in this case) director worth his or her salt must disdain anything that might smack of conventional, clichéd storytelling. Unfortunately, they just swap them for other clichés and become lethargic in the process. Apparently this film has been compared to the Killing (the Danish TV serial) and I can see some similarities - except that the Danes know how to combine the elegaic with interesting characters and a story that moves.It's a shame, because there are good actors in here, especially Möhring and Blomberg. The latter might overact a bit, but he is nevertheless compelling to watch. I can't recommend it.