Stellet licht (2007)

Director:

Carlos Reygadas

Writer:

Carlos Reygadas (writer)

Release Date:

12 October 2007 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A father's faith in God is put to the test when he falls for another woman. |

Plot Keywords:

God | Cult | Absurdism | Betrayal | Pantheism

Awards:

28 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Cornelio Wall	...	Johan
Maria Pankratz	...	Marianne
Miriam Toews	...	Esther
Peter Wall	...	Padre
Jacobo Klassen	...	Zacarias
Elizabeth Fehr	...	Madre
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jacques Brel	...	Himself (archive footage)

Directed by
Carlos Reygadas

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Carlos Reygadas		writer

Produced by
Jeroen Beker	....	co-producer
Jean Labadie	....	associate producer
Carlos Reygadas	....	producer
Jaime Romandia	....	producer
Frans van Gestel	....	co-producer

Cinematography by
Alexis Zabe

Film Editing by
Natalia López

Art Direction by
Nohemi Gonzalez

Production Management
Luisa Blanco	....	assistant production manager
Gerardo Tagle	....	director of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alex Ezpeleta	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Jaime Baksht	....	sound mixer
Michelle Couttolenc	....	sound mixer
Sergio Diaz	....	supervising sound editor
Martín Hernández	....	supervising sound editor
Raul Locatelli	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Juan Manuel Nogales	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Jonathan Leys	....	grip assistant
Nicolas Martin	....	Steadicam operator
Daniel Valdes	....	assistant camera

Thanks
Alfonso Cuarón	....	thanks
Alejandro González Iñárritu	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Mantarraya Producciones
• No Dream Cinema
• Bac Films
• Arte
• Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.
• Foprocine
• Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía (IMCINE)
• Motel Films
• Nederlands Fonds voor de Film
• Ticoman
• World Cinema Fund
• arte France Cinéma

Distributors

• Bac Films (2008) (France) (all media)
• Arte (2008) (France) (TV)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Look Now! (2007-2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Golem Distribución (2007) (Spain) (all media)
• Gutek Film (2008) (Poland) (all media)
• Look Now! (2008) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Mantarraya Producciones (2007) (Mexico) (all media)
• Metro Tartan Distribution Ltd. (2007) (UK) (all media)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Seville Pictures (2008) (Canada) (all media)
• Video Film Express (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Øst Für Paradis (2008) (Denmark) (all media)

Other Companies

• World Cinema Fund  with the support of

Also Known As:

Silent Light (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Lumière silencieuse (France) (festival title)
Luz silenciosa (Mexico)
Stilles Licht (Germany)

Runtime:

145 min | France:142 min | Netherlands:135 min | Canada:127 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:136 min

Country:

Mexico | France | Netherlands | Germany

Language:

Low German | Spanish | French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Chihuahua, Mexico

Company:

Mantarraya Producciones

Trivia:

Mexico's official submission for the 80th Academy Awards, and the first film from that country that is not in Spanish. Under AMPAS's new rules for Best Foreign-Language Film, it is eligible for a nomination.

Stillness speaks (but not to everybody)

This is certainly not a film for everybody and I will be careful in who I recommend this movie to. It is challenging because it is very unsatisfying to the 5 senses we are used to (over)feed. This movie is like meditating, you need to surrender to it, ignore what your mind is telling you about what a movie should be, surrender to the slowness first and then to the lack of almost everything we are normally used to in a movie. There is so little you can chew on, no acting, inhibited emotions, no laughter, even the acclaimed picture is unsatisfying (don't see this movie for that reason). Everything is internal, barely reaching the surface. If you can tune in though, like in a meditation, you will become ultra sensitive, sense the subtle and begin to enjoy. Some scenes may even totally fill your spirit. One word of caution though, if you intend to see this movie in a theatre: it is very likely that some people will become uncomfortable and leave, keep talking, protest etc... which makes it even more difficult to watch it with serenity so renting it as a DVD may be a more suitable option. If you are the kind of person enjoying a walk in the countryside contemplating nature without talking you'll probably enjoy this movie. If you prefer talking or being entertained then chances are that you will not.