Silent Friend
A Film by Ildiko Enyedi
2025 - Germany/Hungary/France - Drama - 147 min.
with Tony Leung Chiu-Wai , Luna Wedler , Enzo Brumm , Sylvester Groth , Martin Wuttke , Johannes Hegemann , Rainer Bock & Léa Seydoux
Languages: German , English
In the heart of a botanical garden in a medieval university town in Germany stands a majestic ginkgo tree. This silent witness has observed over a century the quiet rhythms of transformation across three human lives.
2020, a neuroscientist from Hong Kong, exploring the mind of babies, begins an unexpected experiment with the old tree.
1972, a young student is profoundly changed by the simple act of observing and connecting with a geranium.
1908, the university’s first female student discovers, through the lens of photography, sacred patterns of the universe hidden within the humblest of plants.
We follow their clumsy, awkward attempts to connect — each one of them deeply rooted in their own present - as they are transformed by the quiet, enduring, and mysterious power of nature. The ancient ginkgo tree brings us closer to what it means to be human — to our longing to belong.
In Collection:
Official Competition
Official Selection
Venice 2025
Best Young Actor
Official Selection
Feature Film Selection 2026
Supported by:
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