Silent Friend
A ginkgo tree in a Marburg botanical garden witnesses three lives across a century, each shaped by longing and constraint.
Where to watch online
Official services. The link goes straight to this film.
Availability data by JustWatch
About the film
What it’s about
In 1908, the first woman enrolls at Marburg University. In 1972, a shy student falls hopelessly for a classmate. In 2020, a Hong Kong neuroscientist cannot leave campus because of the pandemic. A ginkgo tree in the botanical garden stands through all three eras, a silent observer of human struggles and changing times.
What hooks you
Director Ildikó Enyedi developed the idea for over twenty years and wrote the role of Dr. Tony Won specifically for Tony Leung Chiu-wai, his first European film. The film won two awards at the Venice Film Festival, including the FIPRESCI Prize. The first screening took place under a ginkgo tree in Marburg's botanical garden, and the closing credits list 118 plants that appear on screen.
Who it’s for
It is a good pick for those who like contemplative dramas where nature and history intertwine, and for viewers drawn to stories of personal transformation across different eras.
Ratings
MOVIE․ONE · 404 votesCreative team
All 10
Trivia
All facts 7
- In the end credits, immediately after the main cast, 118 plants featured in the film are listed.
- The film's first screening took place under the canopy of a ginkgo tree growing in the Marburg Botanical Garden.
- Ildikó Enyedi wrote the character of Dr. Tony Wong specifically for Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai after watching recordings of his interviews. Despite the producers' doubts, after receiving the script the actor called the director online and said: "I agree."
- For Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, "Silent Friend" became the first European film in which he starred.
- Preparing for the role of the scientist, Tony Leung Chiu-wai studied literature on cognitive development in infants, visited three universities, talked with neuroscientists, and worked with an English teacher to put on a British accent. Preparation for the role took six months.
- Director and co-screenwriter Ildikó Enyedi nurtured the idea for the film for more than twenty years.
Awards and nominations
2 wins · 1 nomination
- 2 wins Venice Film Festival
- FIPRESCI Prize - Competition Program Ildikó Enyedi Venice Film Festival · 2025
- Marcello Mastroianni Award Luna Wedler Venice Film Festival · 2025
Reviews
0Similar
-
7.3
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
-
5.8
The Girl in the Book
-
6.6
I Believe in Unicorns
-
7.0
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
-
6.1
Origin
-
7.1
The Lovely Bones
-
6.3
3 Days in Quiberon
-
6.4
The Glassblower
-
6.3
Paula
-
7.5
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
No one has written about this yet
The first piece about “Silent Friend” takes this spot. An analysis, an essay, a personal story — whatever suits you.
- 01It appears right here, on the page everyone looking for this title opens.
- 02Your name and a link to your profile go with it.
- 03The editor already knows which title it is about — just start with the first line.
- 04Your first article earns the “First article” badge on your profile.
Share
Silent Friend (2025)
Silent Friend
2025
Silent Friend
2025
Silent Friend
2025