UCM.ONE will release the film “House of Silence” (German title: “Haus der Stille“, which was directed and directed by Simone Geißler, in German cinemas nationwide on December 7, 2023 on the film label Artkeim².
The film tells the story of a successful author, Sorel Malkow (Simone Geißler), who retreats to the Lüneburg Heath to write her new novel, which is based on autobiographical, traumatic experiences, in a secluded estate. The more the novel develops, the more strange and unsettling the events become, and it soon becomes clear that she is being stalked by a man who seems to know her memories inside out and is driving Sorel to the edge of her physical and psychological limits. Neither meeting the village mechanic Marius (Aaron Thiesse) nor a surprise visit from her friend Laura (Cosma Dujat) gives her any respite. As the line between reality and nightmare blurs, Sorel is faced with a decision: should she face up to the threat and take the risk of delving even deeper into the abyss of her fears?
In “House of Silence“, the story of the main character Sorel is told in an atypical way. Viewers are immersed in Sorel’s perspective and experience from her point of view how she deals with unresolved traumas. The narrative shows the consequences of enduring physical and psychological violence. The film is intended to serve as an impetus for change and help.
Commentary by Simone Geißler on the film
“As executive producer, I decided in favour of a strong female team. Why a female team? The film addresses violence against women, which is a sensitive and serious topic. Women can bring a variety of perspectives to the topic and help to avoid stereotypes and clichés that might appear in the portrayal of violence against women. It was also important to me to make women visible in different positions in the film industry.”
Comments on the film
“I am very impressed! Instead of just using the usual clichés, Simone Geißler has really dared to do something. At first, the film struck me as a psychological thriller that plays with common expectations and varies the arc of suspense well, with dream and reality merging more and more. So far so good. In my reading, however, the film neither wants to dwell on the level of a TV thriller nor be a cheap revenge fantasy about injustice suffered. I have had to experience the extent to which experiences of violence, especially rape and sexual abuse, can destroy a person’s life and also have an impact on relationships with other people several times in contact with those directly affected. And it’s not just because I studied psychology that I know that victims can later become perpetrators themselves. Some of them can’t get back on a “green branch” even with professional support. In this respect, Simone has consistently thought through a life situation or a development to its logical conclusion on film. Neither as documentary reality nor as irrational delusions, but as a kind of vision – as indicated by the reflections on the left-hand side of the picture in a central scene. I can only hope that others see it the same way. I was fully engaged in the development of the main character, who increasingly loses the ground under her feet due to her experiences and adventures. For me, that’s the essence of the film on the subject of experiences of violence and trauma, and it came across very well.” (Holger Twele, film journalist, member of the Association of German Film Critics; source: BABU Film UG)
“House of Silence ends up being a lot louder than the title suggests, and that takes a lot of cinematic courage. Everyone involved in the film had this courage, and that makes the film all the more an important cinematic experience. The acting power that Simone Geißler unleashes here in her own film is tremendous and gives the taboo subject of ‘violence against women’ a face. A violence that flows through every scene of the film like an insidious poison and then, in an unexpected plot twist, poisons everyone equally – perpetrators and victims alike.” (Ben Scharf, producer, writer, director; source: BABU Film UG)
More information about the film label: Artkeim²
