The Quiet (2005)

Dot (Belle), a young deaf and mute woman, is sent to live with her godparents (Falco and Donovan) and their daughter (Cuthbert). The new addition to the household realizes that everything is not copacetic in the home, and the family's dark come to light.

Director:

Jamie Babbit

Writers:

Abdi Nazemian, Micah Schraft

Stars:

Elisha Cuthbert, Camilla Belle, Edie Falco

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elisha Cuthbert	...	Nina Deer
Camilla Belle	...	Dot
Edie Falco	...	Olivia Deer
Martin Donovan	...	Paul Deer
Shawn Ashmore	...	Connor
Katy Mixon	...	Michelle Fell
David Gallagher	...	Brian
Shannon Woodward	...	Fiona
Maria Cash	...	Mrs. Feltswatter
Jo Baker	...	Myrna
Steve Uzzell	...	Mr. Piln
Ken Thomas	...	Officer Jim
Rudy Costa	...	Police Officer
Myrna Cabello	...	Waitress
Diane Quest	...	Newscaster #1

Storyline

Following the death of her father, a teenage Dot moves into the home of her godparents and their teenage daughter Nina. Dot arrives wrapped up in the silence of being deaf-mute. She finds a different kind of silence waiting for her in her new home, for this home is a place with a dark secret involving Nina and her father. At first, Dot and Nina seem to be polar opposites. However, they gradually realize how much they have in common. Bringing them together catalyzes a series of events in which both reveal their secrets and shed their double lives. A violent consummation almost destroys them. Yet they find hope for the future in the quiet after the storm.

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Plot Keywords:

secret | death | godparent | deaf | dysfunctional family | 

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Taglines:

Her family betrayed her trust. Now she's breaking her silence.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong and disturbing sexual content, a scene of violence, language, drug content and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

25 August 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dot

Filming Locations:

Bowie High School - 4103 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$900,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$27,546 (USA) (25 August 2006)

Gross:

$381,186 (USA) (15 September 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Andrea Sperling Productions, Burnt Orange Productions, Holly Wiersma Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 91 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jamie Babbit has stated in an interview that Thora Birch was originally chosen to play the role of Dot.

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Goofs

When Connor is describing Hershey PA to Dot, he tells her that they give out free M&Ms. They are a product of the M&M/Mars company, not Hershey. Hershey does in fact give out free candy but it is always a product of theirs, not the competition.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dot: All I wanted was to be invisible.

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Connections

Features Pasión de gavilanes (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Piano Sonata #23 Opus 57, 'Appassionata', Allegro assai"
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Anthony Aubrey Tobin

User Reviews

A distressing but well executed film

This film receives a 10 for disturbing subject matter. It is at times very difficult to watch. The characters are troubled, each in his/her own way. It feels edgy and often very foreign. With that warning, I must say that on some level I enjoyed the film. Technically it is superb. The character development is wonderful, the story intriguing and the plot is gripping. As the plot unfolds, you are forced to change your opinions about each of the characters. At first I despised the main character but felt much sympathy for her towards the end. Not an uplifting film, but that is certainly not what the screenwriter nor the director intended. I suspect that it will be an award winner.