Can You Hear the Music?

Music is universally understood. Whether one has studied the deep intricacies found in music theory or listens to music simply for fun, it can be accepted and appreciated by a massive audience. Music can tell a story all in itself though lyrics and movements. It can also help tell a story. The movie Remember the Titans is well-known and well-loved by a large audience. The director wanted to help the audience that didn't understand the sport of football through music. When the game was close and each play was crucial, he played quick, suspenseful music to help set up an intense, anxious feeling. When something good happened, triumphant, uplifting music played, to help the audience know that something good happened (on the football field). Music can greatly amplify a story and its mood. In "The Silent Child," a sign language teacher named Joanne is hired by a family to help their youngest child, Libby, be more prepared for her first year in school. In this short film, the music and lack of music helps set many themes, feelings and plot through its use of music.

First, let's look at the way music helps establish the relationship between Joanne and Libby. All throughout the movie, there is lots of noise. This is sometimes the constant chatter between the other four family members at the dinner table, or the TV is on, or there is background music playing. When Joanne first interacts with Libby, everything is very silent. The audience only hears what Joanne hears, which is her motions and lips moving as she signs to Libby. This lack of music repeats during the intimate moments between Libby and Joanne. Although these are the most silent scenes in the movie, they are the most important and cherished ones to these two. 

Next, let's look at the way the music revolves around Joanne. Joanne represents and connects the two separate worlds this movie has: the hearing and the deaf. When Joanne is seen riding her bike, interacting with the family or doing other activities, the music is lovely, clear, and simple. When she has these interactions with Libby, it is silent. The use of music shows that she is the bridge between both worlds, and she is capable of doing incredible things in both. She breaks through in the silence as she relates and "listens" to Libby. She tries to help the family understand what is truly best for her on the other side of the bridge.

In the final scene of the movie, Joanne comes to the school where Libby is attending to try and see how she is doing. Libby's mother has decided to cancel the lessons because she felt that they were not needed. Joanne, worried for Libby, sees her through the gate of the school. Libby is standing all alone while all the other kids are playing. The two lock eyes and sign, (I think) "I love you" to each other. It is a sad and moving scene, but it is the music that helps set the ultimate mood and present the theme that the directors are trying to make: change needs to happen. In this scene, the music is very eerie, with dissonant chords played. The music never seems to resolve itself. There are lonely instruments playing the melody. While the final texts of the film are being played, asking for the audience to be more aware and to help provide change to deaf children, the music is plays itself to feel very unresolved. It never really ends, it feels incomplete, and it seems like it's teasing that it won't play a final note that would bring everything together. This use of music helps portray the theme and message that things are not okay for these deaf children, that things need to be done and that we should feel unresolved with the situation they are in.