Can a sound engineer escape his mother and Ukraine by recording a rare bird?
In short: In the acclaimed comedy-drama My Thoughts Are Silent, a struggling musician attempts to flee his life for Canada. His ticket out is a professional assignment to record rare wildlife in the Carpathians. The catch? His overbearing mother insists on joining the trip, turning his quest for independence into a chaotic journey.
Directed by Antonio Lukich, My Thoughts Are Silent (2019) explores the universal tension between parents and children. The protagonist, Vadim, is a sound engineer facing a series of personal and professional setbacks. When a Canadian firm offers him a chance to record the sounds of Ukrainian animals, he sees a path to leave what he considers an uncomfortable home. However, his mother, a taxi driver in Uzhhorod, complicates his mission by constantly distracting him during his fieldwork in the Carpathian Mountains.
The production process was as ambitious as the protagonist's goals. After winning the 10th Derzhkino Competition in June 2017, the film secured ₴8.9 million in state funding. Filming commenced in March 2018 across Kyiv and the Zakarpattia Oblast. A significant portion of the budget was dedicated to music, including the acquisition of rights to the Spice Girls' song Viva Forever, which serves as a thematic anchor for the character's aspirations. The film’s soundscape also incorporates unique elements, such as the mallard’s call, which is derived from the song Galeforce Beach by Rozz Dyliams.
Upon its release, the film resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike. It premiered at the 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July 2019, winning the Special Jury Prize. Domestically, it earned the Audience Award and the FIPRESCI Award at the Odesa International Film Festival. The film has since been recognized as one of the 100 best works in the history of Ukrainian cinema, proving that even a story about a failed recording trip can capture the complexities of modern life.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: My Thoughts Are Silent
- Also: My Thoughts Are Silent
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-my-thoughts-are-silent.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
