Trees have much to tell us in the thoughtful eco-forward drama ‘Silent Friend’

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It’s more than just a current fad to appreciate the strength of a tree – it reminds us how long time truly is, and it represents safety, transformation, and development. Fittingly, a large gingko tree on the campus of a German college serves as a grounding force in “Silent Friend,” a film by Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi, which explores the lives of characters across multiple generations.

Ildikó Enyedi’s films, from her early work like “My Twentieth Century” to “On Body and Soul,” often explore the intersection of ordinary life and something larger, hinting at hidden potential. It’s fitting, then, that her latest film features a 200-year-old tree as a central character – perhaps it holds the key to the questions the film poses. After all, trees, as living, growing beings, clearly communicate with each other.

I was immediately drawn into the story of Tony, a brilliant neuroscientist played by Tony Leung Chiu-wai. He arrives at the University of Marburg as a visiting professor, excited to continue his important work on how babies’ brains develop. But things quickly change when the pandemic starts, and he finds himself unexpectedly isolated on campus. It’s a really moving portrayal of how the lockdowns forced a kind of solitude onto everyone, and it felt particularly poignant seeing that happen to him and his research.

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The beautiful nature scenes captured by Gergely Pálos and enhanced by Károly Szalai seemed to be perfectly timed, finally capturing Tony’s complete focus and sparking his interest in the idea of ‘green intelligence’.

The film also introduces us to Grete (Luna Wedler), a determined young woman studying botany in 1908. As the university’s first female student, she faces dismissive treatment from her male professors, but finds a new perspective through the emerging art of photography. Simultaneously, we meet Hannes (Enzo Brumm), a curious farm boy in 1972. While his classmates embrace the changing times, Hannes becomes captivated by a single geranium, wondering what secrets it might reveal if observed closely.

What makes “Silent Friend” so captivating – and surprisingly quick to watch despite its length – is Enyedi’s genuine belief that curiosity fuels growth. The film is also beautifully acted, with a particularly radiant and compassionate performance from Leung, who seems to possess an inner light. When he connects with Léa Seydoux’s character, the film becomes incredibly luminous, though even these exceptionally talented actors are mostly just conversing on screen.

The film strikes a beautiful balance, and in a larger sense, argues for the importance of preserving and appreciating movies themselves – as vibrant, immersive worlds full of beauty and meaning. It cleverly uses different camera formats – intimate black-and-white film, grainy color film, and digital cameras – to represent different time periods. Through it all, the gingko tree is consistently stunning and awe-inspiring.

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2026-05-16 00:02