The Silence (1963)
Kernel Score: 86% · 396 ratings
Genres: Drama, Romance
Released: 1963-09-23
Runtime: 95 minutes
Where to watch The Silence
- Stream: The Criterion Channel
- Rent: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Traveling through an unnamed European country on the brink of war, sickly, intellectual Ester, her sister Anna and Anna's young son, Johan, check into a near-empty hotel. A basic inability to communicate among the three seems only to worsen during their stay. Anna provokes her sister by enjoying a dalliance with a local man, while the boy, left to himself, has a series of enigmatic encounters that heighten the growing air of isolation.
The Silence parents' guide: ages 14+
Parents need to know that The Silence (1963) is a tense European art-house drama about two sisters whose isolation and desire create friction during a hotel stay.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — One sister pursues a sexual dalliance with a local man during the stay.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Silence
If you liked The Silence, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Dreamers (2003) — 81%
- Atonement (2007) — 85%
- After We Collided (2020) — 81%
- Before Midnight (2013) — 86%
- My King (2015) — 81%
- Children of Heaven (1997) — 89%
- Last Year at Marienbad (1961) — 84%
- Piku (2015) — 79%
Director
Cast
- Ingrid Thulin as Ester
- Gunnel Lindblom as Anna
- Birger Malmsten as Bartender
- Håkan Jahnberg as Hotel Steward
- Jörgen Lindström as Johan
- Kotti Chave as Officer in the Train Compartment
- Lissi Alandh as Woman in Variety Hall (uncredited)
- Leif Forstenberg as Man in Variety Hall (uncredited)
- Eskil Kalling as Bar Owner (uncredited)
- Karl-Arne Bergman as Paperboy (uncredited)
The Silence FAQ
Is The Silence good?
The Silence has an 86% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 396 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Silence?
In the US you can stream The Silence on The Criterion Channel and rent it from Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango At Home.
Is The Silence OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 14+. Parents need to know that The Silence (1963) is a tense European art-house drama about two sisters whose isolation and desire create friction during a hotel stay.
What movies are like The Silence?
If you liked The Silence, try The Dreamers, Atonement, After We Collided and Before Midnight.