A Movie Straight Out of a Dream
In the heart of the botanical garden of the medieval university town of Marburg stands a majestic ginkgo tree. For over a hundred years, it has been a silent witness—observing quiet, profound changes in the lives of three people.
In 2020, a neuroscientist from Hong Kong (Tony Leung), who researches the cognitive development of babies, dares to conduct an unusual experiment with the ancient tree.
In 1972, a young student (Enzo Brumm) undergoes an inner transformation—triggered by the focused observation of a simple geranium.
In 1908, the university’s first female student (Luna Wedler) follows her passion for photography—and discovers the hidden patterns of the universe through the lens of her camera.
Following the Golden Bear-winning “Body and Soul” (2017), Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi presents *SILENT FRIEND*, a poetic, sensitive work in which the relationship between plants and humans becomes a symbol of the universal longing for connection. Through her protagonists’ quiet attempts to connect with the world, nature, and themselves, a touching story unfolds about belonging, change—and the beauty of longing. In Venice, Luna Wedler was awarded the prize for Best Young Discovery for her role.
Written and directed by: ILDIKÓ ENYEDI
Germany, France, Hungary 2025, 147 minutes
Starring: Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Luna Wedler, Enzo Brumm,
Sylvester Groth, Martin Wuttke, Johannes Hegemann,
Rainer Bock, Marlene Burow, Yun Huang, and Léa Seydoux
