Silenced is a 2011 South Korean movie, directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk and starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, and Kim Hyun-soo. The movie is based on the true story of the sexual abuses committed against hearing-impaired students at the Gwangju Inhwa School for the deaf in South Korea in the early 2000s.
The movie follows Gang In-ho, a new teacher at the school who notices that many of his students are uncommunicative and afraid. He learns that the students have been the victims of sexual abuse by the school's faculty members, including the school's director. The school's administration and the local authorities have turned a blind eye to the situation, and the victims' parents have been intimidated into silence.
In-ho, with the help of a human rights lawyer, fights for the students' justice. They discover a culture of corruption and cover-up within the school and the local government. In-ho's investigation leads him to evidence of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse of the students.
The movie highlights the vulnerability of the hearing-impaired community, who are often overlooked and in need of special protection. It is a powerful and poignant portrayal of how corrupt power dynamics can oppress and victimize the most helpless members of society. Silenced was a major box office success in South Korea and received critical acclaim for its harrowing portrayal of the events.
