Speechless (2012)

Speechless 2012 / 無言 2012 / Wu Yan

A mysterious, naked, young man is found by a river in a small town in southern China. Although seemingly Western European, he is unable or unwilling to speak. He is taken in by the police and then to a hospital where he is befriended by Jiang, a medical orderly. When the day comes for his transfer to a larger institution for mental patients, Jiang is convinced that the stranger shouldn’t be there and takes a dangerous decision. The slow unfolding of memories and events reveals a traumatic secret and a devastating denouement in this dramatic thriller as the two principals uncover a troubled past of sex, revenge, love and betrayal. This is an assured thriller which builds slowly to gain a strong momentum and offers a fascinating view of gay life in contemporary China. Simon Chung’s script offers an unpredictable and exciting ride with a strong cast. (Source: Brian Robinson)