The thriller “House of Silence” (German original title: “Haus der Stille“) celebrated its cinema premiere in Berlin on the evening of 7 December 2023 at the traditional Berlin film theatre Colosseum in the Prenzlauer Berg district. In front of an almost sold-out auditorium, the interested audience followed the feature film directorial debut of writer, director, producer and lead actress Simone Geißler, whose gripping story deals with coping with physical injuries and traumatisation as a result of male violence.
After the screening, Simone Geißler introduced her ensemble of actors and her predominantly female film team to the enthusiastic premiere audience. Actress and presenter Tania Carlin led the subsequent film discussion with lively audience participation.
Summary
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.
Simone Geißler had this to say about the choice of people involved in the film: “As executive producer, I decided on a strong female team. Why a women’s team? The film deals with 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.”
More information about the movie: House of Silence
More information about the film label: Artkeim²
