Communication Error

The Silent Child documents a fictional family with a very realistic situation. The youngest daughter, Libby, is deaf and mute and struggles to find her place in her British all hearing family. They hire a caring social worker that has a passion for sign language and a undying love for Libby. After some initial trouble communicating with Libby the two begin to understand each-other overtime and not only learn to communicate but become dear friends. However, Libby's mother begins to feel jealousy that she can't communicate with her daughter through sign language and fires the social worker moving Libby into a school she is not prepared to go to. The closing scenes show Libby's inadequacy at a school that clearly doesn't understand her disability. The depressing sadness upon Libby's face finishes with closing wording across the screen pleading for sign language recognition in every school. Clearly this is a film directed at more recognition and sign language but I also believe that it is a strong message about the lack of understanding between people in the world today.

The mother is the prime example. Each day the social worker comes to the house she attempts to teach the mother about her process or how to better work with Libby. And each day it is the mother that runs out, is distracted, or has her own agenda. The mothers lack of ability to listen and even greater problem of spending too little time with her child set her back in the relationship. This allows her jealousy to grow later in the film. A line is repeated by the mother twice throughout the film, "She follows what we say really well." Even though the film makers make it clear that Libby doesn't understand or connect with her family. This mother is oblivious to this blatant miscommunication between her and Libby because she is too engaged with her own life. Meanwhile we are given a beautiful montage of the social worker and Libby taking the time to learn and grow together building not only sign language, but understanding.

I believe a pertinent sub-issue addressed by this films script and the naturalist acting of the young girl and her social worker is the ability to understand and have a relationship with someone goes beyond the same language. Even before Libby could speak sign language she had a relationship with her social worker that her mother never could. It was not the same language that brought them together but rather the time, nurture, listening, and understanding of one another that built a bond that was crushing to both parties when torn apart. We could all learn to not only be accepting of sign language but to better our intercommunication skills as we build relationships with one another especially those we love.