A man stands in focus in front of a blurry background. He has short hair and is wearing glasses and a grey scarf.

Silent Friend + Q&A Sydney Film Festival

  • Cinema
  • Playhouse
  • Run time: 147 minutes, plus 20 minute Q&A Subject to change
  • Seating map

Three stories spanning eras, connected by a tree

Germany, France, Hungary | 2025 | German, English | Drama | Unclassified 15+

Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Léa Seydoux star in the wondrous latest from Ildikó Enyedi (On Body and Soul, Sydney Film Prize 2017), following three era-spanning stories connected by a tree.

A mighty gingko tree in a German university town bears silent witness to the lives of three characters over more than a century. In 1908, a bright botanist (Luna Wedler, Best Young Actress, Venice 2025) forges a challenging path as the first female student accepted by the male-dominated institution. In 1972, two classmates bond over a geranium in politically charged times. And in 2020, a lonely visiting neuroscientist (Leung Chiu-wai), stuck on campus, seeks meaning from the tree’s electromagnetic signals under the guidance of a French biologist (Léa Seydoux). Oscar-nominated SFF regular Ildikó Enyedi returns in resplendent form with this perceptive exploration of humanity’s deep-rooted connection with nature.

This special screening will also include a live Q&A.

Presented by Sydney Opera House and Sydney Film Festival

Event details

This Venice competition standout feels like a spiritual extension of Enyedi’s On Body and Soul.

Guy Lodge, Variety

A true original, one of those cinematic events that, once seen, will not be easily forgotten.

Peter Sobczynski, RogerEbert.com

Leung doesn’t need to prove anything, but he proves everything anyway… This is less a performance than a presence.

Leila Latif, IndieWire

Cast and credits

Tony Tony Leung Chiu-Wai 
Grete Luna Wedler
Alice Léa Seydoux 

Director & Screenwriter Ildikó Enyedi
Producer Reinhard Brundig
Producer Mónika Mécs
Producer Nicolas Elghozi
Producer Morgane Olivier
Producer Meng Xie
Cinematographer Gergely Pálos
Editor Károly Szalai

Australian Distributor Hi Gloss Entertainment

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Attending this event

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Playhouse

The Playhouse is located in the north-western corner of Sydney Opera House, best accessed through the Western Foyers.

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