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Silent Waters

EMAILPRINTFirst Run Features

Silent Waters  reviews
64
10.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 1 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama  |  Foreign

Written by: Sabiha Sumar
Paromita Vohra

Directed by: Sabiha Sumar

Release Date:
Theatrical: October 8, 2004
DVD: September 20, 2005

Running Time: 95 minutes, Color

Origin: Pakistan / France / Germany

Language(s): Punjabi / Urdu (with English subtitles)

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Kiron Kher, Aamir Ali Malik, Arsad Mahmud, Salman Shahid, Shilpa Shukla, Sarfaraz Ansari, Shazim Ashraf, and Navtej Johar

Set in 1979 in Pakistan, when General Zia-ul-Haq took control of the country and stoked the fires of Islamic nationalism, the film focuses on a Muslim woman whose haunted past turns her present life upside down. (First Run Features)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

75

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Stirring on religious and humanitarian levels, and very timely notwithstanding its 1979 setting.

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75

New York Post V.A. Musetto

Has relevance in the world as we now know it.

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75

Miami Herald Marta Barber

But by the time you understand the meaning of its title, Sabiha Sumar's film has delivered an emotional punch.

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70

TV Guide Ken Fox

It highlights a still shadowy moment in the creation of Pakistan that saw the abduction of nearly 100,000 Sikh and Muslim women in both India and Pakistan.

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70

Village Voice Joshua Land

Sumar's debut feature could scarcely be more relevant to Pakistan's present, or, given this country's history of backing such repressive regimes, to ours.

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70

The Onion (A.V. Club) Noel Murray

Converts relevant contemporary history into intimate personal drama.

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63

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

The fact that these atrocities are not well known in the West is a good reason for this film to exist.

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60

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Silent Waters is several different movies, and most of them feel negligible and meandering, until the film finally packs a wallop.

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50

Variety Derek Elley

Worthy intentions are drowned by schematic scripting and only OK direction in Silent Waters, an achingly PC drama on how Islamic fundamentalism wrecks families and oppresses women.

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50

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

The provocative issues of Silent Waters are unfortunately undercut by schematic plotting and one-dimensional characterizations, but the forcefulness of its message makes it a rewarding cinematic experience.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 1 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Anthony F. gave it a 10:
Outstanding.

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