Redemption is key in A Silent Voice

By Sophie Sienkiewicz ‘23, staff writer

  Deafness becomes a metaphor for miscommunication and isolation in A Silent Voice, an animated coming of age movie directed by Naoko Yamada. The movie features stunning animation and a message that holds so much importance to kids and adults alike. The story is adapted from the book of the same name written and illustrated by Yoshitoki Oima. Yamada is one of the only female directors still in the field today, A Silent Voice is one of her biggest projects to date. She brings light to mental illnesses that are so misrepresented, along with the obstacles that can arise with growing up.

  A Silent Voice takes place when Shoko Nishimiya, a kind-hearted girl with impaired hearing moves to a new school. Her classmates, including a punk kid named Shoya Ishida, are not sure how they feel about having to comply with Shoko’s needs as someone who is deaf, so her new classmates resort to relentless bullying. She endures the stealing and breaking her hearing aids, screaming into her ear, and general harassment. Shoko tries so desperately to become friends with her classmates despite this but is only met with immaturity. Disappointed and emotionally scarred, she transfers to another school. Years later we see Shoya in high school has become a loner sunk into deep depression and is unable to look people in the eyes. After contemplating and almost attempting  suicide, Shoya is met with a second chance, and seeks to make amends with Shoko after all these years.

  This movie does not flinch when addressing uncomfortable topics like depression, social anxiety, and the real cruelness of our own peers. It is ultimately about seeking redemption, not through the eyes of the victim, but the bully. It is not all dark, however; characters like Nagatsuka are the first to befriend Shoya when his bike is stolen, and Shoya offers his own. Nagatsuka is a colorful character who provides most of the comic relief in the best way. Some of the funniest scenes occur when he is paired with Shoko’s overprotective and extremely sarcastic younger sister, Yuzuru. There are obviously going to be some dislikable characters in the mix as well, like Naoka and Kawai, who still grow up to be immature, selfish, and constantly play victim when partaking in Shoko’s bullying.