In an era when noise fills every corner of our lives, the gift of silence often goes unnoticed. We thrive on stimulation, and amid the buzz of notifications, the hum of traffic, and the barrage of images on screens, silence, with its offer to pause for introspection, can feel like a fleeting refuge. Our movies mirror this frenzy. The lion’s share of ticket sales usually goes to blockbusters filled with explosive soundtracks, rapid-fire dialogue, and nonstop action. Even the genres that are quieter than action-adventure, like romantic comedy and drama, still depend on sound to steer our emotions.
Yet, in this sea of noise, silence is a vital element of film grammar, and its effective use prompts us to slow down and ground ourselves in the here and now. This awakening of present-moment awareness in the context of what’s unfolding onscreen resonates in a spiritual dimension. As with meditation or prayer, silence in film can lead to a heightened consciousness as our attention is drawn inward and we become anchored in our embodied existence.
In this essay, which appears in Comment Magazine, I dive into two films that break away from the conventions of mainstream cinema in their embrace of silence. Both Into Great Silence and Ida move beyond the commercial and didactic tendencies of the typical Christian movie to draw viewers into an experience that feels more like prayer than entertainment.
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