No Poster

Listening

Visit website

7.3/10 • 3

2003-10-030h 25m

DramaRomance

At a spa where talking is forbidden, an emotionally distraught woman finds solace in the company of a kind man and the two of them gradually fall in love.

Directors
Kenneth Branagh
Writters
Kenneth Branagh
Editors
Kenneth Branagh, Neil Farrell

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Paul McGann

    Paul McGann

    Man

  2. Frances Barber

    Frances Barber

    Woman

  3. Nanette Newman

    Nanette Newman

    Spa Owner

Reviews1

View Reviews
DocTerminus Avatar

DocTerminus

Feb 11, 2022

7/10

Kenneth Branagh is one of my favorite filmmakers. None of his films are flawless, but many are close. the one hit I think many of his pre-Hamlet films suffer from a fear of silence. The dialogue is often wall to wall, and when there is a gap, Patrick Doyle's musical scoring loudly fills it. I don't know if this critique is unique to me, but if it is not, then it appears Branagh is aware of - and addressing the issue with this short film. LISTENING follows a woman who struggles with the world around her, all high in decibels. To regain her sanity she decides to visit a spa, a reclusive location where verbal conversation is not allowed. She tries to navigate without the daily talk to friends, without the use of a mobile phone. As a short film, there aren't 3 acts to this film. In fact, it is what would only be a third act. Branagh gets his quiet study and ends it with a twist more commonly associated with Rod Serling. As of this writing, the film is not available other than a horrible quality youtube video. I would recommend it for fans of Branagh, although passively.

Media

    Recommendations

    • As You Like It main backdrop

      As You Like It

      5.7

    • Transcendence main backdrop

      Transcendence

      6.1

    • Green Book main backdrop

      Green Book

      8.2

    • Red Desert main backdrop

      Red Desert

      7.4

    • Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment main backdrop

      Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment

      6.1

    • Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events main backdrop

      Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

      6.8

    • Titanic main backdrop

      Titanic

      7.9

    • Take the Money and Run main backdrop

      Take the Money and Run

      7.1

    • The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest main backdrop

      The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

      7.1

    • Creed main backdrop

      Creed

      7.4

    • Her main backdrop

      Her

      7.8

    • The Secret Life of Pets main backdrop

      The Secret Life of Pets

      6.3

    • The Grand Budapest Hotel main backdrop

      The Grand Budapest Hotel

      8.0

    • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button main backdrop

      The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

      7.6

    • Limitless main backdrop

      Limitless

      7.2

    • Suck Me Shakespeer 2 main backdrop

      Suck Me Shakespeer 2

      6.4

    • Kill Bill: Vol. 2 main backdrop

      Kill Bill: Vol. 2

      7.9

    • The Secret in Their Eyes main backdrop

      The Secret in Their Eyes

      8.0

    • Beverly Hills Cop II main backdrop

      Beverly Hills Cop II

      6.5

    • Tootsie main backdrop

      Tootsie

      7.2

    Status
    Released
    Original Language
    English
    Budget
    --
    Revenue
    --
    Keywords
    peaceself-helpcommunicationshort filmsilence