# The Silent Child

The Silent Child is a British sign language short film written by and starring Rachel Shenton and directed by her own husband Chris Overton, and released in 2017 by Slick Films. It tells the story of Libby, a profoundly deaf six-year-old girl, who lives a silent life until a social worker, played by Shenton, teaches her how to communicate through sign language. The film won the Oscar for Live Action Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards. The film's television debut was on BBC One to an audience of 3.6 million, the film then received an extended period on BBC iPlayer.

## Premise

The film was based on Shenton's own experiences as the child of a parent who became deaf. The film features profoundly deaf six-year-old first-time actor Maisie Sly as the titular child. British Sign Language (BSL) is used in the film.

## Plot

Joanne (Rachel Shenton) is a social worker who arrives at Libby's (Maisie Sly) home as Libby's siblings (Sam Rees and Annie Cusselle) and father Paul (Philip York) run out the door. Libby's mother, Sue, (Rachel Fielding) explains that Libby was found deaf at three years old despite having no deaf relatives, and that she can lip-read. However, the truth is no one makes any effort to communicate with her: though they assume Libby is able to read their lips proficiently, they change topics quickly, speak without facing her, and leave her isolated for long periods of time. Libby's most strained relationship is with her mother, who claims she is too busy for such basic activities as taking her to the park, and whose physical affection Libby rejects.
Taken aback at Libby's lack of familial interaction, and wishing to help the child diversify her forms of communication, Joanne teaches Libby British Sign Language. They take trips to the park and garden, play sardines and eat sweets, all in BSL. Libby, who quickly gains a proficiency of BSL, soon adores Joanne, with whom she can communicate. However, Libby is still unable to communicate at home; though her siblings show appreciation for Joanne's work and Libby's knowledge of BSL, even showing interest in learning the language, Libby's parents flatly refuse to learn, with the excuse that there is no time for the family to participate due to their schedules. Furthermore, Sue shows increasing signs of insecurity at Joanne's close relationship with Libby, and is opposed to Libby learning BSL, believing that Libby's best chance of classroom integration is to continue lip-reading in opposition to Joanne's insistence that her best odds are with a classroom aide and interpreter (a role Joanne volunteers for).
While talking to Paul's mother (Anna Barry), Joanne realizes that Libby was the product of an extramarital affair, and her biological father’s father was deaf, contrary to what Sue had said in their first meeting. The family has low expectations for Libby, despite her being intelligent and active; Paul's mother shows outdated knowledge of deafness and is unsure if Libby will even be able to get a job.
Soon, Sue and Paul fire Joanne, telling her that Libby cannot continue BSL and must return to lip-reading. Despite Joanne's suggestions they are sending her to a normal school, where another deaf boy had been and "did fine". On Libby's first day at school, she cannot understand anything. She stands all day, alone, while the teacher talks as if Libby could hear, and the children play around her. Joanne, upset at being unable to say goodbye to Libby, arrives at her school to find her standing alone at recess. When the little girl spots her, she signs "I love you". Joanne, realizing Libby's future (alone, with no communication and no support), begins to cry before signing "I love you" back, and leaves. The film ends with a PSA that deaf children can succeed in every way a hearing child can, as long as they have the proper support.

## Cast

* Rachel Shenton as Joanne, a social worker
* Maisie Sly as Libby, a profoundly deaf 6-year-old girl
* Rachel Fielding as Sue
* Philip York as Paul
* Anna Barry as Nancy
* Sam Rees as Seb
* Annie Cusselle as Pip

## Reception
### Critical response

The Silent Child has an approval rating of 92% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 reviews, and an average rating of 8.71/10.

### Awards and nominations

The Silent Child won best short film at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in August 2017. This made it eligible for entry to the Oscars. In December 2017 the film was selected as one of the final ten films in the Live Action Short Film category for the 90th Academy Awards. On 23 January 2018, it was announced that The Silent Child was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for the 90th Academy Awards, which it then won. Shenton kept a promise that she had made to their young lead actress and signed her acceptance speech.
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result |
| Academy Awards | March 4, 2018 | Live Action Short Film | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Aesthetica Short Film Festival | November 12, 2017 | People's Choice Award | Chris Overton | Won |
| Aesthetica Short Film Festival | November 12, 2017 | Youth Jury Award | Chris Overton | Won |
| Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival | August, 2017 | Award of Recognition: Short Drama | Chris Overton | Won |
| Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival | August, 2017 | Award of Recognition: Actress Under 18 | Maisie Sly | Won |
| London Independent Film Awards | August, 2017 | Best Actress | Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Rhode Island International Film Festival | August 13, 2017 | Best Actress | Maisie Sly | Won |
| Rhode Island International Film Festival | August 13, 2017 | Grand Jury Prize Winner | Chris Overton | Won |
| Encounters International Film Festival | 2017 | Audience Choice Award | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| American Short Film Awards | 2017 | Best Short Film of the Year | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Gold Movie Awards | 2017 | Film of the Year | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Gold Movie Awards | 2017 | Film of the Month | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Gold Movie Awards | 2017 | Best Short Film | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Lift-Off Film Festival, Season Awards | 2017 | Best Acting Ensemble | The entire cast. | Won |
| New Renaissance Film Festival | 2017 | Humanity Award | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| New Renaissance Film Festival | 2017 | Best Cinematography | Ali Farahani | Won |
| New Renaissance Film Festival | 2017 | Best Director | Chris Overton | Nominated |
| New Renaissance Film Festival | 2017 | Best Actress | Rachel Shenton | Nominated |
| Sydney Indie Film Festival | 2017 | Best Film | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Sydney Indie Film Festival | 2017 | Best Cinematography | Ali Farahani | Nominated |
| Sydney Indie Film Festival | 2017 | Best Actress | Rachel Shenton | Nominated |
| Southampton International Film Festival | 2017 | Best Short Screenplay | Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Southampton International Film Festival | 2017 | Best Short Film | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Nominated |
| Southampton International Film Festival | 2017 | Best Actress | Rachel Shenton | Nominated |
| Southampton International Film Festival | 2017 | Best Supporting Actress | Maisy Sly | Nominated |
| Overcome Film Festival | 2017 | Best Actress | Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Overcome Film Festival | 2017 | Best International Short Film | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Riverbend Film Festival | 2018 | Best Actress | Rachel Shenton | Won |
| Riverbend Film Festival | 2018 | Best Director | Chris Overton | Won |
| Savannah Film Festival | 2017 | Best Narrative Short | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| The Short Film Awards | 2017 | Best Narrative Short Film | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |
| The Short Film Awards | 2017 | Best Editing | Emily Walder | Won |
| London Independent Film Festival | 2017 | Grand Jury Prize | Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton | Won |

## Festivals Selections

| Film Festival | Notes |
| Rhode Island International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Aesthetica Short Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Encounters International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Savannah Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Foyle International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Heartland International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| London Short Film Festival | Official Selection |
| London Independent Film Festival | Official Selection |
| HollyShorts International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Sydney Indie Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Kerry Short Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Underwire International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| New Renaissance International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Bolton International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| London Lift-Off Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Hollywood International Moving Picture Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Southampton International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Overcome Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Riverbend Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Gold Movie Awards | Official Selection |
| The Short Film Awards | Official Selection |
| American Short Film Awards | Official Selection |