When is the Silent Friend release date in the US?

Silent Friend began screening at premiere events in the US on 22 October 2025, with further screenings into 2026. A limited theatrical release is listed for 8 May 2026. The worldwide release date is 15 January 2026.

Where can I watch Silent Friend?

In the US, you can rent Silent Friend on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home and Plex. You can also buy it on all of these except Plex.

Who is in the cast of Silent Friend?

The cast includes Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Luna Wedler, Léa Seydoux, Enzo Brumm, Sylvester Groth, Martin Wuttke, Johannes Hegemann, Rainer Bock, Marlene Burow and Bernd Birkhahn.

What is Silent Friend about?

The film is set around an ancient ginkgo in a botanical garden in a German university town. It follows three people in three eras (the early 1900s, the 1970s and the 2020s) whose lives each lead them to the tree.

How long is Silent Friend?

Silent Friend runs 147 minutes. It is mainly in German, with Cantonese and English dialogue.

Silent Friend (2025): Plot, Cast, Review & Where to Watch

Silent Friend plot summary (no spoilers)

A botanical garden in an old German university town is home to an ancient ginkgo, and Ildikó Enyedi’s Silent Friend is built around it. The film does not follow a single hero. Instead, it moves between three eras: the early 1900s, the 1970s and the 2020s, the last shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In each period, a different person finds their path leading back to the same patch of ground and the same tree. They live in separate decades and carry separate burdens, yet the ginkgo becomes a fixed point for all of them, a place where private doubts and questions come into focus.

The story is told in a nonlinear way, cutting between timelines rather than proceeding in order. Along the way, it touches on botany and on how people relate to the natural world, as well as on the social climate of each era. Themes such as sexism and counter-culture form part of the backdrop. It is a contemplative period drama in which a living, silent presence links lives that never directly meet.

Silent Friend — Mood illustration, not a still from the film — Mood illustration, not a still from the film

What makes Silent Friend notable

Writer-director: Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi both wrote and directed the film.

Cast: The ensemble brings together performers from across Europe and Asia:

Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Tony
Luna Wedler as Grete
Léa Seydoux as Alice Sauvage
Enzo Brumm as Hannes
Sylvester Groth as Anton
Martin Wuttke as Herr Fuchs
Johannes Hegemann as Thomas
Rainer Bock as Prof. Winterhalter
Marlene Burow as Gundula
Bernd Birkhahn as Prof. Wild

A truly international production: Silent Friend is a co-production between France, Germany, Hungary, China and Belgium. Companies involved include Pandora Film, Galatée Films, Inforg-M&M Film, Rediance, ZDF/Arte, ARTE France Cinéma and Allons Voir. The original language is German, and the dialogue also features Cantonese and English.

Format: The film is a drama with a runtime of 147 minutes. Its structure spans more than a century across multiple timelines.

Audience reception: If you are looking for a Silent Friend review, a useful reference point is the TMDB audience score. At the time of writing, it stands at 7.2/10 from 58 votes, which is still a fairly small sample.

Who will enjoy Silent Friend

Viewers drawn to slow-burning, reflective arthouse dramas
Fans of Tony Leung Chiu-wai or Léa Seydoux who enjoy seeing them in international ensemble work
Anyone fascinated by trees, botany and the relationship between people and nature
Lovers of nonlinear storytelling with interwoven timelines
Audiences interested in period settings spanning the 1900s, the 1970s and the present day

Silent Friend release date & where to watch (US)

Release date: In the United States, Silent Friend first screened at premiere events starting on 22 October 2025. Further screenings followed between late 2025 and spring 2026. A limited theatrical release is listed for 8 May 2026. The film’s general worldwide release date is 15 January 2026.

Where to watch: US viewers can currently watch the film digitally.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home and Plex
Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home

The film is not listed on any subscription streaming service in the US at this time. A trailer is available.

Trailer

Cast

Tony Leung Chiu-waias TonySee credits →
Luna Wedleras GreteSee credits →
Enzo Brummas HannesSee credits →
Sylvester Grothas Anton
Martin Wuttkeas Herr Fuchs
Johannes Hegemannas Thomas
Rainer Bockas Prof. Winterhalter
Léa Seydouxas Alice Sauvage

Photo: TMDB

FAQ

When is the Silent Friend release date in the US?: Silent Friend began screening at premiere events in the US on 22 October 2025, with further screenings into 2026. A limited theatrical release is listed for 8 May 2026. The worldwide release date is 15 January 2026.
Where can I watch Silent Friend?: In the US, you can rent Silent Friend on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home and Plex. You can also buy it on all of these except Plex.
Who is in the cast of Silent Friend?: The cast includes Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Luna Wedler, Léa Seydoux, Enzo Brumm, Sylvester Groth, Martin Wuttke, Johannes Hegemann, Rainer Bock, Marlene Burow and Bernd Birkhahn.
What is Silent Friend about?: The film is set around an ancient ginkgo in a botanical garden in a German university town. It follows three people in three eras (the early 1900s, the 1970s and the 2020s) whose lives each lead them to the tree.
How long is Silent Friend?: Silent Friend runs 147 minutes. It is mainly in German, with Cantonese and English dialogue.

Sources

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