Overview

• The film premiered on September 5 as the final title in Venice’s competition, drawing a 5‑minute‑22‑second standing ovation.
• Critics highlight Tony Leung’s restrained performance and Gergely Pálos’s distinct look for each era while pointing to a 147‑minute runtime and unhurried rhythms.
• Structured as a triptych set in 1908, 1972 and 2020, the story centers on a German university botanical garden where a centuries‑old ginkgo tree serves as the throughline.
• In the 2020 segment, Leung plays a visiting Hong Kong neuroscientist who explores plant responsiveness during the COVID lockdown, with Léa Seydoux appearing as a remote plant‑communication scientist.
• An international co‑production led by Pandora Film with sales by Films Boutique, Silent Friend is set to continue its festival run at TIFF, with wider release plans not yet announced.