Doc Fortnight, MoMA's annual international festival of nonfiction film, returns for its 17th year with 12 days of innovative approaches to documentary filmmaking. Featuring a diverse assortment of features and short films from across the globe, the festival continues to highlight the vibrant and varied styles of independent filmmakers — both emerging and established — around the world, including "The Silent Teacher" from Taiwan.
The Silent Teacher. 2017. Taiwan. Directed by Maso Chen. In Mandarin, Taiwanese; English subtitles. 73 min.
US premiere on Feb. 16
Inside the morgue at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei, a man brushes his late wife’s hair while telling her about his day. Referring to the name given to bodies donated for medical research, The Silent Teacher tells the dual story of the Lin family’s grief over their lost matriarch, and the students who will learn how to be better doctors thanks to her selfless donation. Maso Chen’s thoughtful film seeks out the connection between the physical body and the soul within.