--- title: "A Silent Voice: The Movie: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/a-silent-voice-the-movie/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/a-silent-voice-the-movie" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # A Silent Voice: The Movie (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 11 reviews: 10 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to A Silent Voice, praising its emotionally direct treatment of bullying, guilt and the difficulty of seeking forgiveness. Praise clusters around Naoko Yamada’s direction and animation that conveys distress through small gestures, expressions and carefully chosen details. The reviews value its attention to teenage social life and the lasting harm experienced by both victims and perpetrators, with several finding its treatment of regret unusually honest and affecting. Reservations centre on pacing and how much story the film tries to accommodate. Some critics find the middle section loose or identify shortcomings in perspective; The Hollywood Reporter describes an ambitious but overstuffed adaptation while praising its precise visual and sonic detail. The spread is fairly narrow, with ten positive responses and one mixed. The Guardian offers the most restrained assessment, though it still appreciates the film’s emotional warmth and evocative framing. ## Variety — Maggie Lee Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2017. Festival review. The review highlights the film's beguiling animation and fresh take on school bullying from the bully's perspective, praising its emotional depth and visual style, though noting some narrative tightening needed in the midsection. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/a-silent-voice-review-1202464344/) ## Little White Lies — Michael Leader Rating 3/4/4. 15 March 2017. The critic calls it a quietly affecting coming-of-ager that broadens the definition of anime in the UK with its emotional, slice-of-life melodrama. They single out the film's awkward, off-centre animation style and its impact despite some narrative and perspective shortcomings. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/a-silent-voice) ## Los Angeles Times — Charles Solomon Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 October 2017. The critic praises the film's unflinching depiction of bullying and its honest exploration of atonement and regret, while noting some pacing issues in its long runtime. It stands out for its emotional depth compared to typical American animated features. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-silent-voice-review-20171019-story.html) ## Radio Times — Trevor Johnston Rating 4/5. The critic views it as a cultural breakthrough for its positive portrayal of a deaf student and insights into bullying, self-esteem and despair. They single out female director Naoko Yamada's direction full of unexpected turns and images suggesting a fresh way of looking at the world. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ri8jt3/a-silent-voice/) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 4/5. 18 March 2017. It is an intricate, romantic and jewel-bright high-school melodrama about the changing relationship between a deaf teenage girl and the boy who bullied her. The critic highlights its account of teenage politics and notes it as a rarity steered by three women. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/03/18/silent-voice-review-intricate-beautiful-account-teenage-politics/) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Rating 4/5. 6 March 2017. The critic praises this insightful Japanese animated high-school drama as standing alongside the best of Studio Ghibli, highlighting its challenging take on bullying, guilt and redemption. They single out director Naoko Yamada's distinctive creative direction and fresh worldview. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/a-silent-voice) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jordan Mintzer Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2017. Festival review. The film condenses a popular manga into an ambitious but overstuffed story of bullying's long-term ripple effects on both victims and perpetrators. Yamada excels at depicting the characters' interior worlds through precise visual and sonic details that highlight the divide between the protagonists. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/a-silent-voice-review-1013787/) ## The Guardian Rating 3/5. 19 March 2017. The film is a real tear-jerker about a young man seeking forgiveness from the deaf classmate he bullied as a child. The critic praises its lush emotional embrace and evocative framing that focuses on details like bruised knees. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/mar/19/a-silent-voice-review-dont-forget-your-tissues-naoko-yamada-adolescent-angst) ## Eye for Film — Jane Fae Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 March 2017. Festival review. The critic highlights the film's complex exploration of bullying from multiple perspectives, including self-loathing and the difficulty of absolution, delivered through visually stunning anime that is funny, engaging, and ultimately heartwarming despite its heavy themes. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/a-silent-voice-2016-film-review-by-jane-fae) ## HeyUGuys — Gloria Daniels-Moss Rating 4/5. 16 March 2017. The critic praises the film's emotional depth in exploring bullying, self-hatred, and redemption through nuanced animation techniques focusing on expressions and gestures; it's a poignant coming-of-age story that moves viewers but doesn't leave them feeling warm and fuzzy. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/a-silent-voice-review/) ## The Skinny — Ross McIndoe Rating ★★★★. 2 March 2017. The film captures the existential anguish of high school life, where everyday dramas feel like profound quests. Yamada's hazy, nostalgic visual style suits the themes of guilt and memory, while the colourful, finely-tuned characters make the story engaging. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/a-silent-voice) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/a-silent-voice-the-movie.md