Silence is the most universal language.Think about the last time a character put you through a rollercoaster of emotions without uttering a single word. You may have smiled, felt a little emotional, or simply appreciated how they made you feel.Just like in regular life, silence is a powerful tool in cinema. And silent protagonists are profound cinematic choices filmmakers make to enhance their storytelling and deliver their messaging in a very specific way. They let audiences think and feel for themselves instead of being told everything through dialogue.Before we jump into a list of memorable silent protagonists in cinema, let’s try and understand what silent protagonists are and why filmmakers continue to use them.What Is A Silent Protagonist?In the strictest sense, a silent protagonist is a lead character in a film who does not speak a single word throughout the runtime of the movie. They could be muted by choice, disability, or storytelling design.Still considered a bold cinematic choice, silent protagonists often create a deep emotional connection with the audience. The lack of dialogue, which tends to involve audiences on another level, brings a tremendous amount of focus to these characters and their situations.Interestingly, there is a long list of films that have “almost silent” protagonists. But I have specifically chosen silent protagonists in the purest sense, as I thought they would make for a more exciting list.Let’s explore 5 incredible silent protagonists in cinema.What Makes Silent Protagonists Powerful Storytellers?Silent protagonists let us, the audience, fill in gaps left by...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today