Silence of the Heart (TV 1984)

Ken goes to kill himself at the same spot Skip did, but Skips parents show up, and talk him out of it.

Director:

Richard Michaels

Writer:

Phil Penningroth

Stars:

Mariette Hartley, Dana Hill, Howard Hesseman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mariette Hartley	...	Barbara Lewis
Dana Hill	...	Cindy Lewis
Howard Hesseman	...	Carl Lewis
Chad Lowe	...	Skip Lewis
Silvana Gallardo	...	Alice Roberti
Elizabeth Berridge	...	Penny
Alexandra Powers	...	Andrea
Charlie Sheen	...	Ken
Ray Girardin	...	Harris
Jim Boyle	...	Public Worker
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Monica
Melissa Hayden	...	Rachel
Rad Daly	...	Basketball Player
Steve Alterman	...	Williams
Casey Siemaszko	...	Jeff

Storyline

Skip Lewis is a 16 year old, who's been through some stuff. Like he has been having academic problems, and a girl whom he has been pursuing has told him that she has no interest in him. He tries to talk to his parents about this but can't, or thinks that they won't understand. So, he goes out and drives off a cliff. Now, his family's in denial saying that the whole thing was an accident. However, his best friend, Ken who was the last person he saw before, was told by Skip that he was considering killing himself and is feeling guilty that he didn't try to stop him.

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | teen

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 October 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Il silenzio nel cuore

Filming Locations:

Monrovia High School - 845 W. Colorado Boulevard, Monrovia, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

David A. Simons Productions, Tisch/Avnet Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Jump (For My Love)"
Performed by The Pointer Sisters

User Reviews

Why not treat people better while they are alive, not when they are dead?...

Why do people only give flowers and sentiment at funerals, and not to the living? This is a fact that many movies which address the subject of suicide fail to ask.

People do not think, until it is too late. Anyone who has lost someone, whether accidentally or by suicide, will empathize and be affected by this film. Mariette Hartley is excellent as Skip's mother, in denial about the "accident".

Howard Hesseman is also very good, working on his projects, avoiding reality, feeling he failed his son in some way, but not knowing what to do about it.

There is also a small part with Charlie Sheen, and his insensitive mother, who acts as if no one in her family could ever resort to such a thing. Sheen comments that she has no idea what goes on in the mind of a teenager. Chad Lowe, as Skip, portrays the disconsolate adolescent who is upset about his SAT scores, and decides he must escape from his life.

The character Penny, portrayed by Elizabeth Berridge, is very sensitive and real. She is angry at everyone, because she understood Skip and his suicide more than anyone else.

This is a film which should be shown in all high schools; suicide is a permanent and tragic choice for the temporarily depressed; unfortunately most parents are still too afraid to even acknowledge it, let alone try and discuss it with their kids. Hopefully future generations will be better at discussion, rather than sweeping emotional problems under the rug.