THE ART OF SILENCE
The first feature documentary about the world-famous mime artist Marcel Marceau. With gestures and facial expressions alone he touched and inspired people around the globe. But the tragic background of his mime acts has long remained hidden. As a teenager, Marceau had to witness his Jewish father being deported and killed by the Nazis. He himself joined the Resistance and secretly smuggled Jewish children across the border. Marceau used silence to survive. From this he created a unique art form that his family and companions continue today.
| Category | Documentary |
| Original title | L'art du Silence |
| Director | Maurizius Staerkle Drux |
| Production | Beauvoir Films, Lichtblick Film- und Fernsehproduktion |
| Country | Switzerland, Germany |
| Format | HD, DCP |
| Runtime | 52/81 min |
| Year | 2022 |
| Broadcaster | ZDF/ARTE, SRF, RTS |
| Language | French, English, German |
| Subtitles | English, German |
| Genre | Arts & Culture, Biography, History & Archive Footage, Human Interest |
Festivals
- Solothurner Filmtage, Switzerland (2022)
- Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis, Documentary Competition, Germany (2022)
- Hot Docs, Artscapes, Canada (2022)
- Millennium Docs Against Gravity, competition section for the best film on art, Poland (2022)
- Locarno Film Festival, Panorama Suisse, Switzerland (2022)
- EIDF (EBS International Documentary Film Festival), South Korea (2022)
- GBG Mime Fest, Sweden (2022)
- Jewish International Film Festival, Australia (2022)
- DA2 - Zagreb Design Art & Architecture FF, Croatia (2022)
- 34th Annual Boston Jewish FF, USA (2022)
- Porto/Post/Doc, new Talents section, Portugal (2022)
- Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival, Israel (2022)
- Miami Jewish Film Festival, USA (2023)
- Slamdance, Break-Out Competition, USA (2023)
- World Community Film Festival, Canada (2023)
- Sedona International Film Festival, USA (2023)
- "Best Documentary on Theatre and Cinema", Master of Art Film Festival, Competition, Bulgaria (2023)
- Sacramento Jewish Film Festival, USA (2023)
- Belleville Downtown DocFest, Canada (2023)
- Seattle Jewish Film Festival, USA (2023)
- International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA), Canada (2023)
- Houston Jewish Film Festival, USA (2023)
- "Audience Award", Pordenone Docs Fest – Le voci del documentario, Italy (2023)
- Barcelona Jewish Film Festival, Spain (2023)
Quotes & Other
- 100th anniversary in 2023: Marcel Marceau was born on March 22, 1923
- "An uplifting and resonating work, The Art of Silence is a fitting celebration of an artist who could bring joy and meaning to the lives of many around the globe without saying a word." Courtney Small, POV
- Cineuropa Review, Giorgia Del Don
- "Totally different from what I expected, the film shows the power of silence and the importance of appreciating the humanity within us all." Sean Graham, Active History
- Theatrical Release in May 2022 Germany/Austria (W-Film), Switzerland (Cineworx)
- Eligible for distribution support by Swiss Films
