Pause and Pay Attention

"The Silent Child" is a short film that focuses on the lack of priority put into helping deaf children in school. In the film, Libby, a young deaf girl, is stuck in a family who does not know how to communicate with her. It isn't until Joann, the tutor, comes into Libby's life, that she begins to know the wonders of communication. As the film progresses, the audience is led to believe that the mother looks at Libby's deaf condition as an inconvenience that should be remedied to fit her, the mother's, way of life. Joanne disagrees and seeks to help Libby learn sign language along with lip reading, instead of trying to cut corners and shove lip reading down Libby's throat. This eventually gets Joanne fired, leaving Libby to be sent off to school where she is unprepared for for the success that she could have if her parents and the school were sensitive to the communication barrier.

One of the things I noticed immediately was how the camera was used to change focus. Joanne had just come for the first time and was taken to the room where Libby was watching TV. The mother explained a little bit about the struggles she was having with Libby and hurried off. Once the mother leaves, we get a shot of Joanne in the background looking at Libby. The shot drastically changes focus from Joanne, the tutor here to make a difference, to sad lonely Libby, who just wants to be able to communicate with people and be understood. I feel like the change in focus was effective to show the two sides of the equation that would later come together to create success. The thing was that it could not happen while Libby's mother (the symbol of society's lack of concern for or real care of those who are deaf) was in the room. Once the mother left, Libby and Joanne were able to come together and find joy in learning and growing as they began to communicate better with each other.

We are shown that a willingness to help along with a concerted effort will show improvement, but when society looks inward to the self instead of outward to others, decisions are made that only multiply the problem. Joanne is shown speaking with Libby via ASL throughout the film. These parts are silent, focusing on the fact that Joanne is putting forth the effort to help Libby learn. The parts of the film when we hear talking, usually involves a lot of negativity toward Libby and a lack of desire for the mother to take part in anything that would interrupt her way of life, even if it would help her communication with Libby. At the end, when Libby is sent to school, we see her as someone who is lost. Someone who has been failed by her family and the ignorant society in which she lives.