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The Silent Army

Name: The Silent Army
Director: Jean van de Velde
Released: 2008
Duration: 115 min

Representation Score

5.4/10

Fair

2008

Director

Jean van de Velde

Runtime

115 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Silent Army successfully shifts focus away from Western exceptionalism by making the African setting a key driver of the plot rather than a passive backdrop. The inclusion of Abu as a central figure provides essential tension and critique within a post-colonial context. However, the film remains limited in its exploration of identity. The narrative is heavily centered on male experiences and the traditional nuclear family, leaving little room for queer representation or the subversion of gender roles. Overall, the film is a geopolitical drama that prioritizes systemic critique and racial diversity over a broader range of social identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Silent Army have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include explicit representations of LGBTQ+ characters or identities that go beyond the assumption that everyone is straight. The story focuses solely on the relationship between a father and his son within a traditional nuclear family structure.

How does The Silent Army portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around a male protagonist dealing with life after his wife's death. It emphasizes male struggles with parental authority without challenging traditional gender roles or empowering female characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Silent Army?

Good

The film addresses diversity by placing a Western protagonist in an African setting. The character Abu plays a central role in creating tension and moving the narrative forward.

How does The Silent Army represent religion and culture?

Good

The plot challenges Western comfort by focusing on the instability of a non-Western state. It critiques global stability through the lens of child soldiering and systemic survival.

Does The Silent Army include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Engages strongly with racial and ethnic diversity through its African setting and central characters.
Effectively uses a non-Western environment to drive character's ability to drive the story and systemic critique.
Avoids treating the foreign setting as a mere backdrop, instead making it a core conflict driver.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible LGBTQ+ representation or identities that go beyond the assumption that everyone is straight.
Limited exploration of gender subversion, focusing instead on traditional male struggles.
Does not include any characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Eduard Zuiderwijk (Marco Borsato) runs a restaurant in Africa. When his wife (Ricky Koole) suddenly dies, he is left to take care of his son Thomas (Siebe Schoneveld) on his own. When his son's best friend Abu (Andrew Kintu) is abducted by a rebel leader to be trained as a child soldier, Eduard goes in pursuit to save the boy and regain his son's respect.

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