A Silent Voice

The positive portrayal of a deaf female student makes this Japanese anime feature something of a cultural breakthrough. The girl in question goes to an ordinary school, and the focus of the storytelling is actually on the attitudes towards her, with the central character being the coolest guy in class, who treats her abominably while other pupils go along with him and teachers pretend not to notice. When the bullying comes to a head, however, it's the bully who must live with himself, as the story probes issues of self-esteem, peer-group status and suicidal despair. A world away from most family-oriented Hollywood animation, this adaptation from a seven-volume manga comic series, is full of insights and at times a compelling watch, if slightly overlong. The confrontational subject matter is one thing, but what really makes the film stand out is female director Naoko Yamada's direction, full of unexpected turns and images, which genuinely suggests a fresh way of looking at the world.