There are some secrets that never let you go! Good day, dear friends! Today I would like to share with you my impressions of watching the heavy drama series “Game of Silence”, which was released in 2016. I accidentally stumbled upon this film, decided out of curiosity to watch one episode and could not come off! This is a criminal hard story, the actors in the series are almost unknown to me, except that I know David Lyons, this charismatic man with piercing, icy eyes attracted my attention from the first frames. From a brief description of the film before watching, I could not understand what it was about, but after the first series of doubts already dissipated.
In the center of the plot, a successful lawyer Jackson Brooks and three of his old childhood friends. The main theme is the cruel secrets of the past that hold and do not let go.
Once upon a time in the past, they were very close friends, living the normal lives of teenagers, maybe not very prosperous, but not angry, until a tragedy occurred that literally divided their lives into before and after. Due to a combination of stupid and very ridiculous circumstances, they ended up in the most terrible place on Earth - a colony for minors. There they spent a year, and all this year they were bullied, humiliated and raped by guards, in this terrible case involved everyone, including the head of the colony Ray Carol.
This story reminded me of another movie, Barry Levinson’s Sleepers, which came out in 1996. This series is a remake of Sleepers, only a more expanded and modern version, and otherwise the projects are very similar, with their heavy theme and terrible ghosts of the past that do not let go. They want to run away from the past, start a new life, and they kind of do it. Everyone has their own way!
25 years have passed, during which each of the heroes tried to live on and forget about the nightmares of his childhood. But to live on, everyone turned out differently. Most of all, of course, Jackson was lucky - a famous lawyer who built a successful career, there is a bride, in general, life was successful! But, and he didn’t forget anything, he just tried to put his terrible memories away in his memory. The film raises very difficult questions: how one ridiculous act, accident, bad luck, can lead to such serious consequences, to break the rest of life. I would like to pay tribute to the complexity of the narrative, the story of four friends unfolds in two time planes, each in its own interesting, has its own laws of development.
The past burst into their lives when one of the four friends, unable to cope with their emotions, kills one of the former prison guards and himself goes to prison for it. This incident became the starting point for the return of painful memories, will open old wounds, and will entail a series of terrible decisions and crimes. The situation is complicated by the fact that their enemies, unlike the same movie "Sleepers" occupy a much higher position in society and to call them to responsibility is much more difficult, especially in twenty-five years, the statute of limitations for everything that these creatures have done to them has already expired. But I could not help but have a question for the heroes of the film, who have not revealed to anyone for a quarter of a century the secrets of prison abuse and humiliation. Well, you have been silent for a quarter of a century, and why did you decide that someone would listen to you today, and who would take revenge if all the statutes of limitations had expired?
The acting of all actors deserves the highest praise for me. All the actors played at a very high level of emotional tension, but touching on such a difficult topic could not be otherwise. After all, time does not take away pain, you just get used to it, learn to live with it.
I fully understand that the theme of the series is very difficult for viewers to perceive and unconventional, not everyone will want to watch such a film, it was shot in a very depressing atmosphere. And the actors were able to convey this atmosphere, all the necessary emotions, without replaying (as in the Turkish version of this film). But I watched all 10 episodes and I really regret that the series was interrupted after season 1 as the finale leaves so many questions, besides it is very bad! I won’t say how the final tenth series ended, but I was really shocked. I understand that it is difficult to imagine a very happy ending to such a story, and yet what the film ended here is too cruel and unfair!
I can’t help but mention that there is also a Turkish version of this film – the series Silence, it is almost identical to The Silent Game, but I couldn’t watch it, too heavy for perception and Turkish actors in my opinion are slightly overplaying, and the crime for which they were imprisoned – stealing praise, for the Western audience, and for the Russian too – somehow too. Therefore, for the remake of “Game of Silence”, the offense was invented more seriously.
I can’t help but notice, maybe it’s not that negative, just a feature – Jackson Brooks in his youth and in adulthood are absolutely not similar in appearance. As noted by the writers, a dark-haired boy with brown eyes after 25 years can not turn into a blonde with blue eyes.
The series is a 100% crime drama, love experiences are also in it, even a thorny love triangle, but nevertheless, they seem to be sidelined. I highly recommend the series despite the difficult topic! He made a very strong impression on me, almost like Sleepers! The only thing I should still warn you, if you are in a bad mood, or you are depressed, then I do not recommend watching the film, it will get even worse! It does not raise the mood, the film is not positive and not romantic, but makes you think! I'd love to continue the story if it's over, but it's not! But this story cannot be passed by and remain indifferent! This is not a fairy tale, but a cruel reality! And of course, David Lyons, if you’re a fan of this actor, you’re going to love it, there’s a lot of him there, and the role itself is very dramatic, complicated! You may not want to watch it a second time, but you should definitely watch it once!