Speechless

By: Carol Coombes
In-House Review - Sep 05 2012

A young man of Western European appearance, (known mostly throughout the film as "the foreigner," and played by Pierre-Mathieu Vitali), is found naked on the banks of a river in a small picturesque town in southern China. He's an unusual case for the police. Aside from having no ID, he's also unable to speak. Unsure what to do with him, they hand him over to a doctor at a local hospital for tests.

At the hospital, he meets Jiang (Gao Qilun) a caring, handsome twenty-something nurses' aide who brings him homemade steamed buns and starts to create a bond. As the silent foreigner is about to be transported to a mental institution, Jiang, risking everything, whisks him away on the back of his scooter to his uncle's countryside home. As feelings and emotions are unlocked, Jiang accidentally stumbles upon the identity of the foreigner - whose past is filled with impossible love, revenge, and betrayal.

Simon Chung's assuredly crafted Speechless, with its strong cast, ethereal setting and intricately woven storyline, is not to be missed. Love can speak louder than words.

By: Spongey

A naked and mute foreigner is discovered by the police. An investigation begins to discover who the man is, where he came from and why he won't speak. Just as he is about to be hauled off to a mental ward, he is liberated by a kind hospital orderly. Slowly we discover the truth of the strangers condition and his past. This movie is about love, betrayal and tragedy. It starts out as a mystery or police procedural and then evolves into a love triangle of sorts. The film skillfully interweaves the stories of its characters and we learn about their true intentions and desires. It's never fully explained why the stranger never speaks although it's hinted by the doctor in the beginning. The selfish decisions shown by all of them begins a startling and tragic chain of events. I wasn't sure how I felt about the ending but it left me feeling rather sad. Perhaps that was the point.