Chinese dramas and films

Recently, Tan Jianci received the Golden Deer Award for Best Actor at the Changchun Film Festival for his performance in «Sound of Silence» (震耳欲聋). The film follows Li Qi, a hearing lawyer and child of deaf parents (CODA), as he investigates crimes within the deaf community.

Read more: Tan Jianci, Li Sitong and Jiang Qiming Claim Their First-Ever Festival Awards

After receiving the award, the actor shared his thoughts on the filming experience:

"There are many scenes in «Sound of Silence»  that left a deep impression on me. What I find most fascinating is that every character around Li Qi serves as a mirror reflecting his inner world. That is why I have unforgettable scenes with each of them — with Xiao Rui, with Xiao Tang, and with Lao Ma.

Let me talk about one particular scene — the one I performed with Teacher Chi Peng. In that scene, we were separated by a window throughout, performing entirely in sign language with no dialogue whatsoever. It was completely silent. What struck me most was the overwhelming despair that washed over me — that feeling of helplessness truly hit me head-on.

At that moment, I truly empathised with those who cannot speak when they face difficulties — that sense of helplessness, that frustration which cannot be resolved with just a few words. I realised that Li Qi's kindness is genuine, but so is the harshness of reality.

During the process of learning sign language, before filming even began, I had already learned almost all the signs required by the script. But when I arrived on set, I discovered that I had learned them wrong. Well, not exactly wrong — it's just that sign language varies from region to region. We had to unify it and establish a single standard. After filming started, depending on rehearsals and the situation on set, many of the sign language lines were changed, and those also had to be adjusted.

But the hardest part, I think, was the final scene (the courtroom scene with dual-text delivery — editor's note). The sign language interpreter didn't approve, because that scene was shot very last, and as I recall, it was redone three times. I had already reached the point where I could perform the sign language lines myself. But I had to say one thing verbally while signing something completely different with my hands. After having learned one entire system, suddenly having to split my focus between two things at once — that was really challenging."

«Sound of Silence» was released in Chinese cinemas on 4 October 2025. The film's budget is estimated at "several tens of millions of yuan" (less than $5 million, according to some sources — less than 50 million yuan).

The film proved to be a commercial success, especially given its modest budget. According to the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the film became the "dark horse" of the national holiday season, grossing 242 million yuan. While that figure may seem modest compared to blockbuster numbers, the film still turned a profit and recouped its investment. Notably, against the backdrop of a downturn in China's film industry, it was the only film in its release weekend not to flop at the box office. Market research indicates that in 2025, films in the 100–500 million yuan range found it increasingly difficult to break through, as the market becomes ever more polarised between megahits and failures. In this context, the result of «Sound of Silence» (242 million yuan) represents a foothold in a difficult niche — one that nonetheless allowed the film to survive and turn a profit.

If you haven't seen it yet, it's well worth your time. The film stands out not only for Tan Jianci's excellent performance but for every element of quality filmmaking — the script, direction, cinematography, and the work of the entire cast, from leads to supporting roles, with powerful scenes throughout. Take a break from costume dramas and urban romances about domineering CEOs. For those interested, it might be worth comparing it with the Russian film «Country of the Deaf».

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