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The Silent Child

39 replies

PurpleDaisies · 28/03/2018 23:44

This will be shown on the BBC on Friday at 7.40pm. Well worth watching (with a tissue).

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062342v?intc_type=singletheme&intc_location=bbcone&intc_campaign=bigonbbcone&intc_linkname=vidclip_thesilentchild_contentcard2

OP posts:
Lovelise · 30/03/2018 08:51

I've set the alarm on my phone so I don't forget! It's a subject very close to home for us.

lalalalee · 30/03/2018 08:52

What's it about?

GinIsIn · 30/03/2018 09:37

It’s wonderful.

GinIsIn · 30/03/2018 09:40

@lalalalee It won the Oscar for best short film - it’s about a small child who is profoundly deaf and lives in a world of silence because her parents don’t want her seeming obviously deaf so don’t want her learning to sign. She gets assigned a social worker who teaches her how to communicate for the first time.

The woman who made it, Rachel Shelton, and who plays the social worker, has a deaf parent and was a BSL interpreter before becoming an actor.

GinIsIn · 30/03/2018 09:40

Shenton. Stupid autocorrect!!

Lifechallenges · 30/03/2018 09:43

Can’t wait to watch it. The bbc news coverage this morning made me want to weep for the deaf children who don’t get the support they need

nomorespaghetti · 30/03/2018 09:47

My daughter is deaf, i downloaded it on Google play and it is a beautiful film. I cried buckets! Looking forward to watching it again Smile

Housewife2010 · 30/03/2018 15:17

Have any of you seen Mandy? It is a 1952 British film on the same subject and is excellent. I recently rewatched it with my 10 year old DD and we loved it.

Lovelise · 30/03/2018 19:37

I'll have to look that one up!

Igottastartthinkingbee · 30/03/2018 19:40

On BBC 1 now!

ineedaholidaynow · 30/03/2018 20:03

Very moving. So sad so many children don't get any help

MiaowTheCat · 30/03/2018 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Samcro · 30/03/2018 20:05

That was so good
And so sad
Got the point across

Oldowl · 30/03/2018 20:08

Wow! What a powerful drama.

It deserved the Oscar and will raise awareness, which is the main point.

Do watch it on catch-up if you missed it. It will be 20 minutes of your life well spent.

Aliiiii · 30/03/2018 20:09

What an amazing film!

MrsWickens · 30/03/2018 20:10

Wow! What a powerful film. Totally deserved the Oscar.

Blankiefan · 30/03/2018 20:15

I'm a weepy mess.

Not an issue I'd engaged with previously. Very moving and awareness raised.

Akire · 30/03/2018 20:39

I was expecting more! Good story but for Oscar I expecting bit extra. I wasn’t sure about how Social worker she was. Seemed more like a hired help. A social worker wouldn’t just go work in a school would they or tell kids they loved them!

Shame didn’t mention each language had its own version of a signed langaguge. I felt it gave people impression that there’s just one like French and let’s teach world wide. Job done.

I use sign myself to communicate so always good when it’s Mainstream. It’s pittful so many children are left to sink in school. What was th deal with the Deaf grandad? Was the Mum just ignoring that fact?

Lovelise · 30/03/2018 20:56

The parents just didn't want to accept that the little girl was deaf. I suppose there must be people out there like that.

Our son is profoundly deaf and it is hard to come to terms with but we will make sure that he will get the best possible start in life. We'll make damn sure of it.

Petalflowers · 30/03/2018 21:16

Housewife - I love Mandy. I remember watching it as a young teen, and try to watch it whenever it’s on tv. I would probably class it in one of my top ten films also. That film partly inspired me to want to become a teacher of deaf children. I actually started my PGCE, but discovered teaching wasn’t for me.

Missed Silent Child. I’ll watch it on iplayer.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 30/03/2018 21:19

That was brilliant. Her little face when she was stood alone in the playground. And the teacher calling out words in a spelling test and she had no idea because she had no support. Sad

Toddlerteaplease · 30/03/2018 21:25

Brilliant film. But I must have a heart of stone as it didn't make me cry.

Frusso · 30/03/2018 21:27

What was the deal with the Deaf grandad? Was the Mum just ignoring that fact? the mum had an affair. The mil says she told the dad (her son) to leave the mum, but he didn't.

MadreDeDios · 30/03/2018 21:51

FWIW my DS has hearing loss and has had access to all the help he has needed throughout his school life. We have never experienced any issues or had to fight for his additional needs at all. I just wanted to make a positive point for any parents facing this future as the film doesn't represent our experience.

oldbirdy · 30/03/2018 21:55

I was a bit annoyed by it tbh. I work in send and whilst we are not infallible in 20 years I never have worked with a parent as obstructive as in the film. Usually they are desperate for help. Also I don't know any profoundly deaf child who starts school without help. My own DS had bad glue ear (60db in both ears, hearing aids) as a nursery child and even he qualified for a couple of visits from the teacher for the deaf to check his language was developing. We would never have a profoundly deaf child start school unaided, no signing, unsupported.