Synopsis

Tacet, a mischievous yet art-loving deaf boy, experiences a musical concert in his own unique way. By clutching a balloon to feel the stage’s vibrations, he transforms sound waves into a vivid visual journey. As star-shaped confetti dances within the balloon, Tacet’s imagination takes flight through endless bamboo forests and abstract shapes. When the music ends, he joins the audience with “silent applause,” raising and shaking his hands, celebrating a harmony that transcends sound.

Director's Comment

[Silence] tells the story of Tacet, a deaf boy attending a music concert, highlighting the everyday challenges faced by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and the vital importance of accessibility in our society. Audiences are invited to experience a concert from the perspective of someone who is hearing impaired, emphasizing the limitations of hearing aids in truly capturing the rich nuances of sound. While it is impossible to fully replicate another’s lived experience, “Silence” offers a meaningful shift from our typical perspective. Ultimately, “Silence” seeks to raise awareness and inspire action toward a more inclusive society. It is dedicated to everyone who experiences and appreciates art in ways that are uniquely true to themselves.

Staff

Producer/Scenario/Storyboard/Lay Out/Editing/Modeling/Look Development/Lighting/Compositing  HWANG Yoona

BG Design HWANG Yoona, KIM Semin, YUN Jinmin

Animation HWANG Yoona, JANG Hyowon, SA Seungdong

Effect HWANG Yoona, KIM Yumin, LEE Jaehee, TANG Mojie

Sound KANG Minho, UTECHT Ryan, UM Taein

Music JEON Ye-chong

Deaf Culture Consultant BONILLA Savannah 

ASL Reference Talen POWIS Kara

ASL Consultant KUEHN Rachel

Thesis Committee Chair TESSIER William 

Thesis Committee Members  KUEHN Hannah, TESSIER Michelle

Program Note

People who love music gather, waiting for the performance to begin. The boy's face, tense at first, softens the moment the music starts — he seems to drift within it, savoring every note, and little by little a smile spreads across his face. Music, a language meant for the ears, is felt here through touch instead, carried in the vibration of a balloon, and the sensation the boy experiences is given visual form. The film unfolds with a warm-hearted gaze toward the many different ways we can feel and receive art.

KIM Kyeongbae