''Silence Like Glass'' (German title: ''Zwei Frauen'') is a 1989 German-American drama film. Though made in Germany, it is set in America and features an American cast with all English dialogue. The film stars

Jami Gertz Jami Beth Gertz ( ; born October 28, 1965) is an American actress. Gertz had roles in the films '' Crossroads'', '' Quicksilver'' (both 1986), '' Less than Zero'', '' The Lost Boys'' (both 1987), and the 1980s TV series '' Square Pegs'' and 1996 ...

Martha Plimpton Martha Plimpton (born November 16, 1970) is an American actress and member of the Carradine family. She started her career as a teen actress in film before transitioning to adult roles on stage and screen. She has received several awards includ ...

George Peppard George Peppard (October 1, 1928 – May 8, 1994) was an American actor. He secured a major role as struggling writer Paul Varjak when he starred alongside Audrey Hepburn in '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'' (1961), and later portrayed a character ...

Bruce Payne Bruce Martyn Payne (born 22 November 1958) is an English actor, producer, screenwriter, film director and theatre director. Payne is best known for portraying villains, such as Charles Rane in ''Passenger 57'', Jacob Kell in '' Highlander: End ...

, and

Rip Torn Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn Jr. (February 6, 1931 – July 9, 2019) was an American actor whose career spanned roughly 60 years. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing Marsh Turner in '' Cross Creek'' (1983). Tor ...

Plot

Eva is a wealthy, snobbish

ballerina A ballet dancer is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet. They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to become a part of a professional ballet company. Ballet dancer ...

who is diagnosed with cancer. She is admitted into the youth cancer ward at a hospital where she is forced into humility by her disease. She rooms with fellow cancer patient Claudia, and the majority of the film revolves around their interactions together in their hospital room. She is treated with "concern and compassion" by Dr. Burton. Ultimately Eva goes into remission and is able to continue her life, but not before witnessing another young woman's death and also assisting Claudia to suicide.

Cast

as Eva Martin *

as Claudia Jacoby *

as Mr. Martin *

as Dr. Burton *

as Dr. Markowitz *

Gayle Hunnicutt Gayle Hunnicutt, Lady Jenkins (February 6, 1943 – August 31, 2023) was an American film, television and stage actress. She starred in more than 30 films. Early life and education The daughter of Colonel Sam Lloyd Hunnicutt and Mary Virginia ...

as Mrs. Martin

Production

Filming took place in West Germany in autumn 1988. The film opened the Munich film festival in the summer of 1989. Actress

shaved her head for this role, a move that would influence the direction of her career for the next several years. She appeared bald in the 1989 film '' Parenthood'' and accompanied her then-boyfriend

River Phoenix River Jude Phoenix (; August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993) was an American actor. He was known as a teen actor before taking on leading roles in critically acclaimed films and becoming one of the most preeminent talents of his generation. Pho ...

to the Oscars with a bald head.

Reception

The film was nominated for Outstanding Feature Film at the

German Film Awards The German Film Award (), also known as Lola after its prize statuette, is the national film award of Germany. It is presented at an annual ceremony honouring cinematic achievements in the German film industry. Besides being the most important ...

. Sam Frank stated that the film was 'engrossing throughout with a directorial style by

Carl Schenkel Carl Schenkel (8 May 1948 – 1 December 2003), also known by the pseudonym Carlo Ombra, was a Swiss film director. His 1984 film ''Abwärts'' won the Bavarian Film Award for Best Direction in 1985. :de:Carl Schenkel Filmography * '' Graf Dracula ...

that is witty and inventive, yet unafraid to stare death in the face'. He also stated that the film featured two female lead performances 'that are among the strongest and most accomplished of the year'. Similarly, Juliet Wittman stated that Gertz and Plimpton 'should receive

Oscars The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence i ...

for their fierce and lovely performances'. A reviewer for ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' stated that the film contained 'brilliant acting and tight direction'. James Cameron-Wilson described the film as 'a powerful, superbly played drama set in a cancer clinic'. Another reviewer stated that ''Silence Like Glass'' was a 'discussion-worthy, thought-provoking film'. Rosemarie Kuheim described the film as 'moving'. In contrast, Georg Seeßlen stated that Schenkel's efforts in 'combining the content of a German television film with the craft of an American genre film' did not succeed.

Awards and honors

; 1990 :;

1990 :: Outstanding Feature Film (nominated)

References

External links

* * {{Carl Schenkel 1989 drama films 1989 films Films set in the United States American drama films German drama films English-language German films Films scored by Anne Dudley Films shot in Germany Films about cancer Films directed by Carl Schenkel 1980s English-language films 1980s American films 1980s German films West German films