Wedding of Silence

Black and white, 35 mm
Russia, 2003, 29 min
Section: Documentary Competition

Synopsis

A film about people who live in a world of silence. A mother doesn’t hear the voices of her children, nor men the din of the foundry where they work. But still they lead full lives. They enjoy family gatherings immensely and love to dance. At church the priest imparts his message by means of sign language, their eyes perceiving the beauty of the liturgy. Even the wedding of a couple from the deaf community proceeds like any other – champagne sparkles in silence, hands create magical toasts. The next day the new husband and his co-workers are back at the foundry casting an enormous bell in honour of Petersburg’s 300th anniversary – they admire their work but won’t hear its sonorous sound as it tolls for the celebration.

About the director

Pavel Medvedev (b. 1963, Orenburg), graduated from the Leningrad State Institute of Culture (1990) and then from the two-year Higher Courses in Television Production. He has worked as a producer for Petersburg radio and television stations. In 2001 he produced the documentary series “Petersburg Short Stories.” His debut, the documentary Vacations in November (Otpusk v noyabre, 2002), focuses on miners who spend their holidays earning money (or at least meat) up north slaughtering reindeer; the film took several awards at home and abroad. Also successful was the documentary The Very Best Day (Samy luchshy den’, 2002) about a Russian organ builder who lives in the country, where he dazzles his neighbours with his music.