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

Camilla Belle played many of the piano pieces. "Piano Sonata #23 Opus 57, 'Appassionata', Allegro assai" is performed by Anthony Aubrey Tobin, and "Piano Sonata #14 Opus 27, No. 2 'Moonlight', Adagio" is performed by Carrie W. Friedman. Elisha Cuthbert performed the first few notes of "Piano Sonata #19 Opus 49, No. 1, Andante" with Camilla Belle before Anthony Aubrey Tobin finished.

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Goofs

When Dot and Nina arrive at the dance and Nina leaves to smoke you can see the backpack on Dot's back. When Conner comes up to Dot to talk to her the back pack is gone. In the next shot, it is back.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Featured in Indie Sex: Teens (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Mediocrity Rules"
Written by Johanna Rachel Fateman and Kathleen Hanna
Performed by Le Tigre
Published by Babe Anderson Publishing (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Mr. Lady Records
By Arrangement with Natural Energy Lab

User Reviews

Extremely disturbing but a very interesting story

What would you do if you had a friend who supposedly is deaf and cannot speak? Would you confide your darkest secrets? Especially when you have to get it out, but fear being outed? I think in some ways we wish we could all do this since we have so much bottled up inside us, that's why I rented The Quiet, I didn't realize how dark this movie truly was until I saw it with my friend today. This story was so disturbing and horrific in my opinion, even though I'm not sure it's within my tastes, but it actually was a pretty well made movie.

Dot is a deaf teenager who has just been adopted by her godparents, she also cannot speak, she is the outcast at school, and lost her parents at a young age. Nina is the parent's daughter who is very popular and has a very dark secret with her "daddy". When Nina spots Dot playing the piano, Dot has a secret of her own that just might out what is happening in their family.

The Quiet is a very interesting plot that I found to be unique and pretty good. The acting is alright, I was surprised by how well the film worked and how well directed it was. I think the thing is though, it's one of those movies you can only see once, you'll see what I mean, because it touches bases you'd never think where a movie would go, you know? But I think we all need those type of movies every once in a while.

7/10