Words of Silence

Lucia Rikaki / Greece / 74 mins / English / 2002

Trailer

Synopsis

Lucia Rikaki’s documentary looks inside the world of hearing impaired people. The unpretentious labour of love lets this overlooked group address the world.

Interviews with deaf people, family (often also deaf) and friends reveal the day to day struggles of the deaf. In her film, Rikaki makes the audience reconsider what is normal.

In an interview the mother from a deaf family tells of shocking her doctor by being relieved that her newborn was also deaf. Later a young man chuckles to people’s surprise when he and his deaf friends ride their beloved motorcycles. Particularly memorable is the star of the film, the dynamic young Lemonia Gamalia. She and her deaf mother articulately express two generations fight to be heard.

The film is based on strong stories with important emotional value as told by deaf people in sign language. The film’s pace and rhythm refers to the pace of sign language- a fast expressive vivid language full of beauty and energy.

About the Film