Marnie Blok chatted about writing and directing her Dutch short film “Beyond Silence,” and being a part of the digital age.
The synopsis is: Two women, two generations, one shared trauma. One has been silent for over 30 years, the other for “only” a year and a half.
Where one retreats further into silence after a confrontation, the other finds the courage to break it.
It stars Deaf actress Henrianne Jansen, Sigrid ten Napel, and Tamar van den Dop.
“Beyond Silence” already made the Top 15 shortlist for the Academy Awards in the “Best Live Action Film” category (out of 207 submissions). On Thursday, January 22nd, the final five Oscar nominees will be officially revealed in this category.
What inspired you to write and direct “Beyond Silence”?
I was raped a long time ago. Because I lived through that experience, I guess I developed a strong focus on the topic. And a huge amount of anger – which is a powerful place to create from.
My first script, written years ago when I was still an actress, also dealt with rape. It carried the theme: A happy life is the best revenge.
The script did not turn into a film then, I guess due to the fact that I was a very inexperienced writer at the time.
A few years ago, I returned to rewrite it, but found shocking statistics: after #MeToo, reports rose 60-70 percent, but actual charges filed increased only one percent.
That realization reshaped my thinking. Silence, chosen or imposed, still defines too many lives.
Society demands survivors speak up, then abandons them to the consequences. Justice remains elusive. So I decided to write “Beyond Silence” first, a film about the necessity and cost of breaking silence.
The backlash against #MeToo from older women dismissing the movement as prudishness and humourless and them warning younger women that victimhood would makewomen seem weak,
shocked me as well. Being assaulted does make you a victim. That’s not weakness – it’s fact. Talking about is is not weak either, in the contrary is a strength.
It made me realize I wanted two generations in the film. I do understand the older woman though. I didn’t stay silent about the rape I experienced, but that was not by choice.
Three friends witnessed it but could not intervene. I did however severely downplay it: Shit happens, move on. In the grand scheme of things, a rape is… merely a rape. Shame and fear pushed me to act tough.
That mindset gave me a lot. But it also held me back in ways I didn’t fully understand for a long time.
What was the most challenging part of this experience?
I needed the script to be extremely precise and sharp for I only had little screentime (17 min) to tell a complex story. So I stripped it down and made sure I had in the script what I wanted. Because authenticity in a performance is key for me I wanted to stay open to what the actors would bring to the set.
Knowing what I wanted actually gave me the freedom to let them search for their own truth within the scene. So that their talent- along with the talent of everyone else on the set- could add up.
Having very limited shooting time was certainly another challenge. We literally had three times seven hours to shoot – due to budget and little daylight because of wintertime.
And of course, working with an actress that never had acted before was a challenge. Honestly, I was not completely sure what I was going to get when we started shooting. But having been an actress myself I know that acting is a lot about enabling someone else to act.
I had two brilliant actresses who would be able to give a lot to Henrianne. Also, having Tamar (van den Dop) and Sigrid on set would give me possibilities to navigate problems when Henrianne was not able to deliver. But all my worries turned out to be not necessary – Henrianne was brilliant!
What was it like working with Henrianne and the other two actresses (Tamar and Sigrid)?
I loved it! It’s so much fun to work with actors and discover the depth and nuances of the characters together with them and figure out how to portray them in the best possible way.
Tamar and Sigrid are both actors that are deeply dedicated to their work and have huge talent, so for me it was a huge pleasure to get their trusted and work with them.
With Henrianne it was different of course — for this was her very first role. I was determined to find a Deaf person not only because of the concerns over inclusivity but also because I felt it would bring the authenticity to the character of Eva that I was looking for just when I wanted to start up audience for the part of Eva I got introduced to her via a friend.
After our first meeting I decided to skip auditions and embark on this adventure with Henrianne. She had no experience in film but I felt she could relate to the subject and I figured that if we would spend a lot of time together we might get there.
Together with Sigrid ten Napel, who portrays her sister, we had many kitchen-table sessions on what acting is about and how to get there.
I told Henrianne about my life and why I needed to make this movie. Henrianne taught me about the world of the Deaf and let me into her life.
I never rehearsed the actual script with her. but i did write a monologue for the occasion, to make her feel what acting is about.
She was very conscious of herself in the beginning so I bought boxing gloves and we started to box- then I let her do the monologue, to get her out of her head and into her body. It worked very well for her.
Dirivng to set the first day i said to my DOP that I was not really sure what I was going to get when we started shooting. But I knew that having Tamar (van den Top) and Sigrid on set would give me possibilities to navigate problems when Henrianne was not able to deliver.
Having been an actress myself I also knew that acting is a lot about enabling someone else to act. I knew I had two brilliant actresses who would be able to give a lot to Henrianne.
In the end, my worries proved completely unfounded. Henrianne was amazing.
What did this screenplay teach you about yourself?
On set a director needs the space and freedom to find what the best possible way is to tell the story.That I finally was the one directing my own script. It was such a great experience.
How did it feel to make the Oscars Top 15 shortlist for “Best Live Action Short Film”?
It is pretty overwhelming and real great off course! I am deeply grateful the film resonates worldwide. It is wonderful we are able to get so much attention for the subject — As I said in the statement after getting shortlisted:
Silence may feel safe at first. But in choosing it, we rob ourselves of something fundamental, our voice, and with that, a very basic human right: to be heard and to participate.
“Beyond Silence” holds space for those who’ve been silenced. By championing our film, you’ve expanded that space exponentially. You are amplifying voices that need to be heard!
We are deeply honoured and profoundly grateful. And to everyone still finding their voice: we hear you.
How does it feel to be a part of the digital age? (Now with streaming, technology and social media being so prevalent)
It’s both exciting and overwhelming. On one hand, today’s technology means you can make compelling work with limited resources – the tools are more accessible than ever.
Social media also gives filmmakers direct access to audiences worldwide, which is incredible for a film like Beyond Silence that deals with universal themes.
There is also a significant downside. Beyond the saturation – so much content competing for attention that quieter, more contemplative films can get lost – constant screen time is also messing up people’s capacity for deep attention.
I have to fight not to give in to endless scrolling on social media and checking my email a million times a day. I need to fight to not lose the ability to sit with silence, to be present without distraction, to truly focus.
The challenge is using these platforms thoughtfully, to genuinely connect with audiences rather than just chasing views or adding to the overwhelming noise.
For me, the most valuable aspect has been the ability for audiences to reach out and connect after they’ve seen the film – to read their feedback and be able to answer their questions directly.
What do your plans for the future include?
Among other projects, I’m developing this short into a feature film, with “Beyond Silence” as the opening scene.
There is so much more to explore – the aftermath, the ripple effects, the sisters’ relationship, and ultimately how these two generations might become allies.
The short format let me capture one heated conversation in real time. A feature would give me space to truly dive into who these characters are
What is your advice for young and emerging actors and filmmakers?
Get out there and make what you want to make! Be authentic. Trust your gut feeling. Know what you want — so you can stay open to input from others without being thrown off your path.
Don’t wait for permission or the perfect conditions. Start small if you have to – what matters most is the story you’re telling and the authenticity you bring to it.
Surround yourself with people who challenge you and stay open. The beauty of filmmaking is that it’s deeply collaborative.
If I had to give advice to other filmmakers working from personal trauma, I’d say this: give yourself a little distance first. Let the subject breathe. Try to gain a broader perspective, a bird’s-eye view.
Then, when you return to the personal, you’ll know where your voice fits in the bigger picture. The emotional truth will still be there, but you’ll have the clarity to craft it into something that reaches beyond just your own experience.
Finally, resilience matters as much as talent. This industry will test you with rejection, setbacks, and compromises. Keep going. Keep making. Your unique perspective is what we need!
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
Haha, I’m curious why that is your favorite question! There are many ways to answer it. Success is a boost of confidence – so on a personal level that’s really nice.
For the film, it’s wonderful to have success because it finds its audience so much more easily when you win festivals – it’s all about visibility.
I think success also means staying true to the story you want to tell. Awards and recognition are validating, but at the end of the day, if the film resonates with even a handful of people in a meaningful way, that feels like success too.
On a personal level, success is a nice ego boost, but more than that, it’s also about growth – learning something new with each project, building strong collaborative relationships, and being part of something that might spark a conversation or shift a perspective.
In this industry, success isn’t always immediate or obvious, but knowing you contributed to work that matters – that keeps me going
What would you like to say to our readers about “Beyond Silence”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
To survivors I would like to say – again: silence may feel safe at first, but you are robbing yourself of a very basic human right to be heard and to participate.
So I can only hope this film will help people find the courage to start talking and put the guilt and shame where it belongs – with the perpetrator. Your story matters, and speaking it can be the first step toward reclaiming your power.
And I think there is a decisive role to be played by bystanders. It is not easy.
A perpetrator only asks one thing of us, which is to shut up; a victim asks us to break a system. But that is what we need. We need an ongoing conversation on this topic in order to make change.
And to men I would like to say – we need you! Many men come up to me and tell me they are on our side and would never misuse their power. I believe them. But it is not enough to be on our side.
You have to get involved and hold others accountable. That means calling out inappropriate behavior when you see it, even when it’s uncomfortable. It means listening to and amplifying survivors’ voices. Real allyship requires action, not just agreement.
Ultimately, I hope Beyond Silence doesn’t just spark emotion – I hope it sparks conversation, reflection, and action.
To learn more about the short movie “Beyond Silence,” follow its Instagram page.
For more information on Marnie Blok, follow her on Instagram.
Read More: “Beyond Silence” review.
