The Eloquent Silence: Deconstructing a Father’s Love in “No Words”
In “No Words,” a profound scene unfolds: Zhang Yixing, in his portrayal of Xiaoma, a deaf father, trembles as he signs “I committed a crime” within the confines of a courtroom. The air crackles with emotion as sobs echo through the space. This potent moment becomes a microcosm of the film’s overarching narrative – in a world saturated with sound, a father’s silence roars with the loudest of cries. The film intricately weaves the story of Xiaoma, a deaf father grappling with a car accident insurance fraud case while simultaneously fighting tooth and nail for his daughter’s custody. Through the lens of this unique family’s journey, the film illuminates the pervasive challenges confronted by individuals with disabilities in contemporary society.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, where even those without disabilities often find themselves struggling to stay afloat, hearing-impaired individuals and other disabled groups face an even steeper uphill battle. These individuals must not only contend with physical limitations but also navigate the complex terrain of societal neglect and systemic exclusion. The pursuit of a better life, however, remains a fundamental and inalienable right for all. Marginalized groups relentlessly demonstrate their inherent value and profound dignity in uniquely inspiring ways.
Zhang Yixing’s Transformative Performance and the Power of Authenticity
Zhang Yixing delivers a career-defining performance as Xiaoma, embodying the character of a disheveled deaf father. The roles of “hearing impairment” and “fatherhood” seem, on the surface, worlds away from Zhang Yixing’s own life experiences. To authentically prepare for the role, Zhang Yixing undertook intensive sign language studies and immersed himself within the hearing-impaired community for months, even maintaining a state of constant sign language communication in his daily life.
This unwavering dedication enabled him to transcend his celebrity persona and deliver a profoundly authentic performance. The film is punctuated with memorable details, such as the subtle pursing of his lips during communication, the slight movement of his eyes catching onto a sound, and the subtly forward-leaning posture he adopts as he walks. These details collectively contribute to the film’s remarkable realism.
The film masterfully contrasts two intense scenes: the violence of the car accident, and the fluidity and grace of sign language communication. Xiaoma’s resilience in the face of external pressures, along with his forced entanglement in the insurance fraud, are vividly externalized through the use of high-speed shots and jarring metallic crashing sounds, emphasizing his utter desperation. Conversely, Xiaoma’s tenderness, profound love, and immeasurable gentleness toward his daughter, Mumu, are captured through intimate close-ups of trembling fingers and exchanged glances, giving form to the intangible concept of “silent love.” Through Xiaoma’s identity shifts across various situations, the film elicits a raw, instinctual sense of emotional expression, lending the work an undeniable, documentary-like feel of authenticity.
A Story of Healing and Acute Social Observation
Beyond Zhang Yixing’s admirable performance, “No Words” distinguishes itself through its story of mutual healing between a father and his daughter and for its insightful sociological observation of the living conditions endured by the hearing-impaired community through the vivid experiences of Xiaoma’s family.
The film’s jarring depiction of fraud rings preying on deaf individuals is not an exaggeration. News reports highlight the stark reality of hearing-impaired individuals becoming consistent targets of insidious financial scams. Specific cases detail the underhanded methods utilized to defraud these vulnerable individuals.
Even in everyday life, hearing-impaired individuals often face a series of hardships. For example, after Xiaoma makes a few unintentional errors, the hotel manager dismisses him with the callous claim: “I can’t understand what you’re saying, and you can’t even hear what I’m saying.” This powerfully reflects the immense communication challenges that deaf individuals face daily. Thus, 8-year-old Mumu is thrust into being the family’s pillar of support. She communicates with external parties on behalf of her father, helps him tirelessly search for odd jobs to scrape by, and comforts him with childish sign language. When Mumu cries out in court, “My dad isn’t like that”, she is not solely defending her father. Mumu is speaking out on behalf of an entire community of others with hearing disabilities.
Authenticity Drawn From Lived Experience
Beside the lead actor, Zhang Yixing, and Zhang Ruonan and Aliya, most supporting roles are cast by unfamiliar faces. These individuals include nearly 30 first time deaf actors comprised of everything from ordinary office workers, accomplished sign language teachers, and “silent baristas” from non-profit coffee shops as well as performers like ballet dancers. The actors portray each role authentically, infused with their own lived experiences and deeply genuine emotions.
Walking out of the theater, beyond tear-jerking scenes, remains an overwhelmingly thought-provoking aspect of the film. In general, society is accustomed to offering sympathy to vulnerable groups. Are populations prepared to hear marginalized voices on various subjects? How can an equal system of open dialogue be built to ensure that everyone feels heard?
A Courageous Step Towards Greater Empathy
“No Words,” while not entirely flawless, fulfills a niche within the current film market by showcasing and bringing the suffering of hearing impaired community to the big screen while, at the same time, provoking genuine emotion as an ‘awakening’ of the masses
In this quickly changing day-to-day world with all its constant sensationalism there remains genuine courage in the act of telling a story using silent film techniques. This film portrays the riches of silence thereby making the sound of unspoken thoughts and emotions as loud as if there was a constant outcry about what is happening. Both how we define humanity, and this art of cinema, has been greatly affected. This film shares not just what other unique groups go through in society but also, reflects the tendernesses within ordinary people.
