Breaking the Silence (2000): cast, story & where to watch
2000 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 2000, Breaking the Silence is a drama film directed by Sun Zhou, running about 90 minutes.
What it’s about. Gong Li stars in this low-key drama about a single mother who will do anything to provide for her son. Sun Liying (Li) struggles to care for her hearing-impaired child Zheng Da (Gao Xin) after her taxi driver husband divorces her. After Zheng Da gets his hearing aid smashed in a fight with classmates, Sun Liying sets out to raise 5,000 yuan (a small fortune) to buy him a replacement. A friend helps her set up an unauthorized bookstall, which soon gets raided by the police. Later she splits her time delivering newspapers and cleaning house for a rich businessman. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival.
Who’s in it. Breaking the Silence stars Gong Li as Sun Liying, Gao Xin, Jing-ming Shi and Lei Kesheng, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Breaking the Silence has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Breaking the Silence page.
If you liked it. Fans of Breaking the Silence tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Breaking the Silence (2000)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Breaking the Silence change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Breaking the Silence worth watching?
- Breaking the Silence holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Breaking the Silence?
- Breaking the Silence stars Gong Li, Gao Xin, Jing-ming Shi, Lei Kesheng and Yue Guan.
- When was Breaking the Silence released?
- Breaking the Silence was released in 2000, with a runtime of about 90 minutes.