The Quiet Room (1996)

A seven-year-old girl adopts a vow of silence in protest when her quarrelsome parents grow increasingly hostile to one another.

Director:

Rolf de Heer

Writer:

Rolf de Heer

Stars:

Celine O'Leary, Chloe Ferguson, Paul Blackwell

3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Celine O'Leary	...	Mother
Paul Blackwell	...	Father
Chloe Ferguson	...	Girl Age 7
Phoebe Ferguson	...	Girl Age 3
Kate Greetham	...	Kate, the Babysitter
Todd Telford	...	Workman
Peter Ferris	...	Carpet Cleaner
Peter Green	...	Carpet Cleaner

Storyline

A seven-year-old girl adopts a vow of silence in protest when her quarrelsome parents grow increasingly hostile to one another.

---

Plot Keywords:

children's music | song | seven year old | vow of silence | female protagonist | 

---

Taglines:

What do you do with adults that behave like children ?

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and thematic elements involving a child affected by domestic discord

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both of the then young actresses, Chloe Ferguson and Phoebe Ferguson, later also both appeared the following year in director Rolf de Heer's 'Epsilon' (aka 'Alien Visitor') (1997).

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Girl Age 7: Hey diddle diddle, the cow did a piddle behind the kitchen door. The little dog laughed to see such fun, so the cat did a little bit more.

---

Connections

Featured in The Movie Show: Episode dated 11 May 1997 (1997)

---

Soundtracks

Row Row Row Your Boat
Traditional
Sung a cappella by Chloe Ferguson with modified lyrics
Reprised a cappella by Phoebe Ferguson with modified lyrics

User Reviews

A miraculous visit into the mind of a child

I got "The Quiet Room" on the basis of the cover in the video store. It was a risk and a risk that was absolutely worth taking.

There are few films that attempt to understand the thinking of a kid. There are even fewer films that have an actor that can portray it. In this film there are both.

There is nothing cutesy here. The girl, a seven year old, has decided not to speak because of the conflict between her parents. That's essentially it. But there is so much in the honesty of the child's monologue that resonates with any person who has been a child trying to understand the irrational world of grownups.

This film is brilliant.

Details

Official Sites:

Umbrella Entertainment [Australia] Vertigo Productions

Country:

Australia Italy France

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

La habitación silenciosa

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fandango, Marvel Movies, SBS Independent

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1