Silent Friend

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

In early 2020, neurologist Dr. Tony Wong travels from Hong Kong to Marburg aiming to complete his research on newborns brain activity in the local Marburg University. But shortly after his first class, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts his plans. Adjusting to his new life under lockdown and unable to continue his work, Wong visits regularly the Botanischer Garten Marburg, adjacent to the campus, where he grows fond of an old ginkgo tree, dating back to 1832. Advised through video calls by French botanist Dr. Alice Sauvage, he quickly adapts a new research trying to match his own neurological activity with the ginkgo's activity. Placing an improvised brain scanner in it, he suspects of a deep relationship between what is seen and unseen. Anton, the University's janitor, appears to be distressed by the research and destroys the equipment. Alice sends male ginkgo tree's pollen to fertilize the Marburg's solitary female ginkgo. Anton comes into terms with Wong, offering him a local German dish. Both of them watch the ginkgo's fertilization process through the scanner.

In 1908, the young German feminist Grete seeks to become the University's first female student. During her interview, the botanic department professor's board attempts to humiliate her placing sexist questions about Christian Konrad Sprengel's plants reproductive systems theory, distressed but well-prepared Grete easily answers them. Overwhelmed, she runs directly to the botanical garden, seemly trying to connect to the local nature including the old ginkgo tree, she is found by Thomas who shares she was the only woman accepted by the committee. After attending a female group gathering at the ginkgo tree, in the early morning hours, Grete is expelled from a family home where she rented a room, accused of promiscuity. Sheltered by a Herr Fuchs, who hires her as his assistant photographer to his studio, Grete grows fond of professional photography work, capturing her research objects. At the University, she applies to Thomas-led college trip to "East Indies", offering her work as professional photographer.

In 1972, solitary student Hannes lives in a shared student housing near the campus, but spends most of his free time reading at the botanical garden near the ginkgo tree. One of his housing partners, Gundula, researches the interactions between plants and humans, but Hannes states his indifference for natural studies due to his countryside background and the compulsory farm work he had to endure during his youth. As he grows feelings for Gundula, he attempts to connect with her through Goethe's Metamorphosis of Plants, but she rebukes him for his lack of knowledge. During a camp fire with Gundula friends, she questions whether he would have sex with her since he's supposedly still a virgin, to which a confused Hannes quickly denies. Gundula leaves for a college trip, leaving him responsible for her research, which includes water her plants and garden, specially a purple geranium connected to a activity sensor. Hannes loneliness brings him closer to it. Improving the mechanical functions of the sensor, he enables it to open the small gate of the residence. But a postcard from Gundula announcing her relationship with Peter leaves him shaken.

Development

Tony Leung Chiu-wai was announced as a cast member in August 2023; director Ildikó Enyedi stated that she wrote the role specifically for him.^[3] It marked Leung's second film outside of Asia, after Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), and his first European production.^[4]

It is a German-French-Hungarian-Chinese co-production, and is produced by Pandora Film (Germany), Galatée Films (France), Inforg - M&M Film (Hungary) and Radiance Films (China), in co-production with Arte France Cinéma and ZDF/Arte.^[5]

In November 2023, the film received a €500,000 production grant from Eurimages.^[6] The Hesse Film Office [de] awarded the film €550,000.^[7][8] The film was also supported by National Film Institute Hungary, German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, BKM, Filmförderungsanstalt, Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, Moin Filmförderung and MEDIA Programme of the European Union.^[5]

Filming

Principal photography began in April 2024. The film was primarily shot in Marburg, specifically at the Alter Botanischer Garten Marburg at the Marburg University.^[7][8] Filming also took place in Cologne.^[2] The film includes a scene depicting the animated videos used in a prior experiment with infants.^[9]

Aiming to distinguish the time periods, Hungarian cinematographer Gergely Pálos shot them in various formats: the 1908 German Empire segment was filmed in black-and-white 35 mm film; the 1972 West Germany segment was filmed in 16 mm film; and the 2020 contemporary Germany segment was filmed digitally.^[10] It marked Pálos first collaboration with Enyedi. Károly Szalai served as editor. Hungarian musicians Gábor Keresztes and Kristóf Kelemen composed the original score.^[5][10]

Films Boutique acquired the international sales rights to the film in May 2024.^[11] The film was presented at the Cannes Film Market in May 2025.^[12] A trailer was released on 4 September 2025.^[13] The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 5 September 2025,^[14] followed by its North American premiere on 9 September at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.^[15] It was also screened at the BFI London Film Festival.^[16] In November 2025, Silent Friend screened at the 46th Cairo International Film Festival where Ildikó Enyedi received a lifetime achievement Award and presented a masterclass titled "Poetry of reality".^[17]

It was theatrically released in Germany by Pandora Film on 15 January 2026.

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 32 critics' reviews are positive.^[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 88 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[19]

Stephanie Bunbury of Deadline wrote that the film is "beautiful, elusive and peppered with provocative nuggets about the nature of life and our place in it."^[20]

Accolades

More information Award, Date of ceremony ...

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
Venice Film Festival	6 September 2025	Golden Lion	Ildikó Enyedi	Nominated	[21]
		FIPRESCI Prize		Won	[22]
		Premio CinemaSarà		Won
		Edipo Re Award		Won
		Green Drop Award		Won
		Leoncino d'Oro Award – Cinema of UNICEF		Won
		Marcello Mastroianni Award	Luna Wedler	Won	[23]
Chicago International Film Festival	24 October 2025	Gold Hugo	Silent Friend	Nominated	[24]
		Best Cinematography	Gergely Pálos	Won	[25]
Valladolid International Film Festival	1 November 2025	Silver Spike	Silent Friend	Won	[26]

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