The Quiet

Released in 2005, The Quiet, written by Abdi Nazemian and Micah Schraft, is a thriller about a socially isolated mute teenage girl named Dot. Dot has lost her father tragically and is adopted by her godparents, who lead an unstable lifestyle which is difficult for her, especially after also losing her mother. The plot unfolds as Dot deals with one tragic situation after the next as she tries to get used to her new family. Because Dot's world is primarily one of solitude, the death of her father initially makes her live a destitute life, until she is taken under the wing of her godparents, Paul and Olivia. The two want to make sure Dot doesn't lose all hope and that she finishes her high school education. Unfortunately the home as not as happy as it should be, as Dot later faces some friction from the couple's teenage daughter, Nina, which sparks the beginning of a toxic interaction between Dot and family. The story's twists and turns continue to unfold as Dot finds herself in the middle of the disturbed nature of forced incest and the presence of drugs in the family home. With everything happening at once, the entire family come to Dot for a shoulder to cry on, when ironically this mute teenage girl is looking for the same thing from them. The film's trail of events may leave audiences feeling sympathetic for Dot, as she tries her best to get used to her new reality with a family that she is now forced to be with. The tension that the film builds between the constant revelations that each family member discloses to Dot, may leave the audience in constant anticipation. As the series of events slowly become violent, Dot uses this opportunity to disclose something that has been bothering her for a long time, which may shock and surprise the audience, as well as her family.