Silenced : A Movie Review

Silenced (2011)

"In a world ruled by money and greed, would you speak up and fight for justice or be silenced?"

Silenced is based on a 2009 novel written by Gong Jee- Young entitled Dogani. It exposed the horrifying real story of the rampant sexual abuse to young deaf and mute students by the school authorities.

The movie starred Gong Yoo who played the role of Kang In-Ho who's a newly appointed teacher from Seoul who moved in to the foggy town of Mujin after given the opportunity to teach in Ja-ae Academy, a school for the deaf, mute and the mentally disabled. On his first day to this new town, he met Yoo-Jin played by Jung Yu-Mi who works for the town's Human Rights Center.  

Gong Pyo and Jung Yu-Mi

On his first day of teaching, he noticed something strange about the students. They all seemed distant and cold, something that he can’t explain. He tried bringing it up to his co-teacher only to be told that it's common for disabled kids to act that way and that disability in the body could lead to mental impairment.  

He tried separating his emotions from his work however this took a halt when he was faced with the truth behind the school's physical and sexual abuse. What unfolded in front of him were the confessions of a young boy and two girls of their grim and horrific experiences under the hands of the schools authorities. 

With the help of Yoo-Jin and the local human rights group, a detailed testimony of the constant beatings and rape of the young deaf and mute students were revealed. They exerted all efforts in finding out the truth as well as fight for justice. Unfortunately, money and power ruled above everything else. The entire community including the school staff, police, judge, prosecutors, doctors and even the church went through a great deal just to cover up the real ordeal. Their mouths were shut because of greed and they get enough compensation with their silence. Despite all the testimonies and physical evidences, including an actual video tape of the brutal molestation done by the school's principal,  the accused we're sentenced to minimum imprisonment and probation with a chance to bail.

The most beautiful and precious things in the world cannot be heard or seen, but only felt by the heart.   – Helen Keller

Director Hwang Dong-Hyuk was able to successfully convey the message to the viewers, stirring both the mind and the emotions. He was able to portray how twisted and sick justice can be.

The real event took placed on the year 2000 and no justice was served up until now. A trial of the said case that took place last 2005 was a clear depiction of how disgustingly greedy and corrupt one's society can be. This moved the entire South Korean community. Upon the release of this movie in 2011, it was noted that the South Korean internet portal was flooded with signed petition for the reinvestigation of the case.

This film has affected me so much and outrage is an understatement describing what I felt after watching it. The violence is so graphic and the pain so real I found myself crying over pity to those helpless kids. The victims were hearing impaired and for some mentally disabled. And under such fragile state those people who were supposed to protect them and nurture them were the one's slowly killing them physically and emotionally.

I would like to commend the three young actors for doing an exemplary job in portraying their roles. Considering how sensitive and disturbing the scenes, they sure were able to move their audiences with their performance.

Based on the research that I made, to date the school has been officially shut down however the case remains open after several other testimonies from students came out. Stories of more sexual abuse, orphaned students killed and bodies being buried within the school grounds.

*** "The 'Dogani Law,' named after the Korean title of the film, significantly increases the prison sentence (up to life imprisonment) for offenders abusing children under 13 and the disabled. Furthermore, the “Dogani Law” has also abolished a controversial clause, “inability to resist,” which had required victims, specifically those who are disabled, to prove that they were physically or mentally inept to resist properly when the crime was being committed—a loophole that gave sex offenders a way out."

***Source: Korean Beacon

I would rate this 10 of 10!

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