The Queen of Silence tells the story of 10-year-old Denisa, a deaf Roma girl who lives in an illegal settlement in Poland. The residents of what was supposed to be only a temporary camp are exposed to aggressive attacks from neighbours on a daily basis and face the constant threat of eviction. Life’s not easy for the deaf and dumb girl, who is referred to by the others as the »stupid one«. But Denisa knows how to fend for herself. Her strategy for survival is to dance!
A box of Bollywood films she finds introduces her to a glamorous, magical world through which she can express herself. She dances for the community, and the community dances with her.

The Queen of Silence is an unusual documentary, an experiment that blends fiction with reality. Agnieszka Zwiefka introduces viewers to the daily struggle for survival through the eyes of an imaginative and strong child using the formal means of a Bollywood film. Zwiefka films the girl in special situations in her life – for example, when she’s offered the chance to hear for the first time. And when she decides she doesn’t want to hear but to remain the queen in her world of silence.

In cooperation with Polnisches Institut Düsseldorf.

Film programme Broken Landscapes

German premiere