Director's Commentary
Maurizius Staerkle Drux on his documentary "The Art of Silence"
I grew up with a deaf father. From an early age, my visual attention was trained because my life sometimes resembled a silent movie set. I myself am not deaf, I hear and started playing music at an early age. Even as an adult, I am still trying to find out what images I could use to express my wishes, my fears and my questions in a way that a deaf person would understand. Perhaps for these very reasons I have chosen filmmaking, a synthesis of image and sound.
With "The Art of Silence" I reflect a part of my own life story. In doing so, I go beyond what is hidden behind the white mask of Bip, alias Marceau. My aim is to reflect on his work from today's perspective. What about his artistic legacy and how do his descendants deal with him? During the making of this film, I spent time and again with the Marceau family, but also with friends and companions who have developed Marceau's art form in their own way. In the process, I became aware of one thing they have in common: they all draw their art from silence. And from the power to change their lives with it.