Silent Friend (2026)

Lodge finds the film enchanting, original and richly sensory, praising Enyedi’s imaginative, patient vision of human connection with plant life. He especially singles out the tactile cinematography and immersive sound and score for creating its vivid, symphonic atmosphere.

Ebiri finds the film mesmerizing and unforgettable despite its slow pace. He especially praises how Enyedi’s cinematography makes the gingko tree’s hidden life feel vivid and emotionally resonant.

The critic finds the film fluid, charming and quietly poetic, praising its belief in curiosity as a force for progress. He especially singles out the sublime gingko tree and the cast’s entrancing performances.

Chang finds the film an enchanting, compassionate meditation on human relationships with plants, though its interwoven storytelling can feel arbitrary. He especially praises the performances, singling out Tony Leung and the ginkgo tree as memorable scene partners.

Latif finds the film profound and beautiful but sometimes painfully slow. Tony Leung’s magnetic, restrained performance is singled out as its emotional center.

Mintzer finds the film an enigmatic, brainy art-house experience that gradually grows on viewers open to its style. He praises its striking cinematography and layered sound design, which bring its unusual connections between people and plants to life.

Romney presents the film as a contemplative, nature-focused work, suggesting a positive response. The headline singles out its paean to nature and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai’s starring performance.

The critic finds the film a sophisticated, if meandering, meditation on connection between humans and nature. She especially praises the sun-drenched 1972 sequences and their intimate cinematography, while noting that the other timelines feel stiff by comparison.

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Bunbury finds the film beautiful, elusive and full of lasting wonder. She praises its sensual images of the ginkgo and germinating seeds, while noting that its stories leave their questions unresolved.