(This film is based on true events.)
(The characters and locations have been fictionalized.)
(Any similarity to any names is entirely unintentional.)
Let me through...
What's wrong with you?
Don't touch me!
Let go!
Hey!
Stop!
What are you doing?
Stop!
I said stop!
Calm down!
Sir, are you okay?
It hurts...
You should choose your words more carefully.
Since when did we lock you up?
We called your school only because your family weren't available.
Take it easy.
Don't be so hard on him,
he's only a child.
Can we please get an interpreter?
It's been ah hour and we still got nothing from him.
How's it possible that after years on the force
this is the first deaf person we've encountered.
Deaf people?
They also pay their taxes.
What about that foreigner who came to use the toilet yesterday?
Excuse me.
And you are...?
I'm a teacher from the school for the hearing impaired.
The teacher is here. This way, please.
- You come at the right time. - Can you translate for us?
Please.
I'm your teacher.
What happened?
An old man stole my wallet on the train.
He said an old man on the train stole his wallet.
He's mistaken.
The old man found his wallet.
He was going to take it to the ticket booth,
but he mistook him for a thief.
- He then chased him and attacked him. - He found it.
What are they saying?
They said he found your wallet. He's not a thief.
He obviously is!
They accuse me of lying after he stole from me?
They said you attacked him.
Bullshit! He bit me first!
But they only buy his words.
They took him to the doctor's as soon as he claimed he was in pain.
Now what's he saying?
What are you guys talking about?
He's saying how sorry he is
for attacking the old man.
He's sorry?
He said that?
His attitude certainly doesn't appear so.
It's true. He's just anxious trying to explain what happened.
It's never easy getting messages across between deaf and hearing people.
What do you mean by "hearing people?"
"Hearing people" refers to people like us, who're able to hear.
- We're all hearing people, then. - It's all just a misunderstanding.
He also said he's grateful for your help.
He's a good kid.
We're just trying to protect him.
You talk too fast I can't catch up.
The police are all morons.
Don't mind them.
Have we cleared up our misunderstandings?
We all sympathize with children like him.
We truly care for them.
Yeah. Thanks.
He's playing nice and says that he sympathize with you.
See, there's a smile.
He's fine now.
- It's all good then. - We'll head back to school now.
- Okay. - Sure, you do that.
- Thanks for coming. - Thank you.
Don't mention it.
- Don't forget your belongings. - Study hard.
- Here you go. - Thanks.
Do you believe me?
Compared to the cops,
I tend to believe the deaf more.
You must be Chang Cheng.
My name is Wang Da Jun.
They are all just like you -- wild.
There's a dance in the auditorium tonight.
You should come.
You're new here?
(Red Forest School for the Hearing-impaired)
(School - Dormitory)
Good
Drink
D
R
What are you doing?
Holding my breath.
Where are we going?
Won't we get caught?
There's free wi-fi here.
I saw strange flashlights from the restroom.
They're just playing.
What could they possibly be playing at this time of night?
Do you know how to swim?
You suck!
At least I know how to hold my breath.
I'm definitely gonna learn how to swim this summer.
No running!
Mind the stairs.
Did your dad call you?
He said he was going to contact you.
Did you make any new friends?
Do you like your new school?
Come play with us.
Let's play together.
Did you set off the alarm?
How did you know what would happen?
What was that on the school bus?
They were just playing.
That's definitely not just playing.
Why would you play soccer with them after what they've done to you?
I do hate it when they do that,
but they're nice most of the time.
That's bullshit!
Let's tell our teacher.
It's useless.
If you tell on them, they'll dislike you.
No one will ever play with you.
You don't want to be alone or go back to a normal school, do you?
So you'll do nothing?
What about the next time? What if they drag me to the back of the bus?
It's fine.
Just bully me with them.
("The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea,")
(by Yao Bei Bei.)
Why aren't you on the school bus?
I don't like schools for the hearing people.
My dad made me go there.
The classes were too difficult I couldn't keep up.
My classmates looked down on me, thought I was stupid.
They'd feel unfortunate having me in their group.
They're all morons just like those cops.
I know. They're bad people.
So did you beat them?
Of course. Bad people should be punished.
Don't worry, there are no bad people here.
I don't know.
What do you mean?
I like it here.
I'm like everyone else here. No one would laugh at me.
Then why did you say you don't know?
Bei Bei said,
I should join them.
Who are they?
Let's go see the teacher.
Stay out of this!
I don't want to betray them.
Teacher!
I saw it with my own eyes!
You're saying nothing happened at the back of the bus?
Nothing happened. We're all just friends.
Why won't you tell him? He can help you.
I'd like to leave now.
Are you insane?
You want this to continue on?
I told you I don't want to betray them.
Are you afraid someone will be arrested for this?
Are you afraid you'll upset your grandparents?
Every time they bullied me,
I screamed out for help,
But they couldn't hear.
I told them to stop,
they kept doing it.
I saw what you wrote.
Anything wrong?
But you didn't write anything in response.
Weren't you just playing around?
They hurt me. I don't like it.
Do they know that you didn't like it?
Yu Xiang and Wei Hua are both good kids.
If they knew you didn't like it,
they wouldn't have done it.
Aren't you going to help me?
How?
It's not like they bullied you or anything.
Principal,
this has already been going on for more than a year.
It's quite clear on Bei Bet's weekly journal.
How could this be playing?
We even had chaperones on the bus.
Where were they when it happened?
This is a matter that must be handled delicately.
We have to first find out
whether she's the only victim.
Mr. Wang,
I think it's best not to inform Bei Bet's family.
Why is that?
It's our fault that we didn't protect her properly.
But think about it.
Does she want her family to find out?
The reason she never mentioned a word
was to protect her grandparents from being upset.
So we'll do nothing about it?
That's not what I meant.
I just don't want her to be traumatized again.
What we're dealing with here,
is a matter of this girl's future.
Do you want the whole world to know
that she was once raped?
How do you think people will treat her?
Is this a responsibility you'll capable of carrying?
Don't be impulsive.
If Ms. Dou really made an oversight,
she'll be punished for this.
Under no circumstances will she get away with this easily.
But we must first try to understand
- Bei Bet's feelings-- - Principal!
Has something like this happened here before?
Are you questioning our school?
I understand it does no good to the school or the kids
if we make it a even bigger deal.
But now she's willing to speak out.
Doesn't that mean that she wants us to help?
I am not Ms. Dou.
I won't do nothing about it.
Why are you fond of The Eight Immortals?
I had some health issues when I was little.
My grandma had the Eight Immortals to adopt me as their goddaughter.
He Xiangu is my favorite of all the Eight.
She's always smiling at me tenderly.
I've seen her.
Yu Xiang,
were you aware of how
Bei Bei was feeling uncomfortable and painful?
We were just playing.
Yu Xiang,
Bei Bei said she didn't like it and didn't want it.
That doesn't make it "playing.”
But the seniors called it playing.
The seniors...
Who are they?
Yu Xiang,
I know this isn't easy,
but you'll have to tell us
for us to bring an end to this.
Admit it if you were involved in this.
(It's painful when someone plays with your genitals.)
Bao Di,
While you were at school,
has anyone ever touched you?
Or...
What took you guys so long?
What is he saying?
It first occurred during the fourth grade
when he was preparing to take a shower at the dormitory.
A group of seniors students walked in
and pulled off his pants.
Will I be punished for this?
But the others have done the same to me.
When I was an eighth grader...
no one came out and did anything...
It also happened last week.
I didn't like it,
but they would intimidate me.
I didn't dare to fight back.
I didn't tell my parents,
because I thought this was something I had to endure.
At first, I only watched from the side...
My mom would blame me...
if I got involved...
But they pushed me...
They laughed at me...
I screamed, but no one heard me.
They told me not to tell anyone.
One time they almost...
beat me up because of it.
The teacher told me not to talk nonsense.
The dorm chaperone told me the same.
Nobody would believe me.
(Sexual harassment)
(Sexual assault)
(Total victims: 127)
Your classmates said
that you ordered them to bully on the others.
Is it true?
I've never done it myself.
I didn't do anything.
Why did you ask them to do it?
For fun.
Have you been bullied by the senior students?
No one would dare do that to me.
Snitch!
It's all your fault we were taken in for questioning.
(Grandpa told me to stay home and not go to school.)
Are we watching the 6:40 screening for The Avengers?
Do you like the Black Widow?
So-so. More of a fan of the Hulk.
You prefer the stronger ones?
Of course. You'd need to be strong to defeat the bad guys.
Excuse us.
Excuse us,
but these are our seats.
Why didn't they respond to me?
No idea..
Excuse me, these are our seats.
I can't hear.
Can you get out of the way?
They've double-booked the seats.
Never mind then.
We've bought these tickets.
But they couldn't hear us.
Could you please move away?
I don't want to watch it anymore. Let's give up our seats.
Why? I thought you wanted to see it.
They must think we're stupid.
You want to stay there? Why?
I've been there since preschool.
All my friends are there.
I'll become useless once I'm out of there.
Nobody would think of you that way.
But I can't hear or speak.
Who will be friends with me?
Aren't you afraid of going back?
They might do the same things to you.
I'm more afraid of being left alone in the outside world.
This is the situation, grandpa.
If Bei Bei transfers to another school right now,
no one would talk to her.
She won't be able to make friends.
I promise to take good care of her.
I'll take her to school every day myself.
She's just a kid who doesn't know any better.
You're her teacher
but you kept making a fuss about it.
I only have one grandchild.
Who would be responsible
if something happens to her again?
If she gets pregnant
would anyone still want her?
Please leave.
Grandpa!
Who are you?
What do you want?
Young man!
Don't you leave!
Come here and take a look.
Look what you've done to my cart.
And you just walked away
without even apologizing?
You were hurrying too much!
You planned to just walk away or what?
You were pushing it too fast.
Don't blame it on the kid. You should pay.
He should pay!
But you bumped into me.
How could it be my fault?!
Excuse me, excuse me.
It wasn't his fault.
He couldn't hear you. He's deaf.
I'll pay for your damage.
You will?
I apologize.
(Why do you want Bei Bei to go back to school?)
(We're different from normal people.)
(We won't be happy out here.)
(1 often feel like a liability.)
(I discovered that I could be useful after knowing her.)
(I won't let anyone mistreat her.)
(You'll protect her?)
What's gotten into you?
Bao Di wants to play with you.
Go blow him
and we'll leave Bei Bei alone.
You won't be able to protect her at all times.
Let's play together.
(Sports Facility)
(It has been a while.)
Nearly 100 incidents have been detected
with more than a quarter of the students involved.
Was the principal really unaware?
Could you clarify the situation?
The school authority was truly unaware of this.
After the incident occurred,
we've made numerous reviews and will try to improve.
We will see this through
and will make no excuses.
As of now, we hope to bring an end to this soon
and bring peace back into our school.
The children really need this place.
His teacher said that he's fitting in well,
and he really likes it there.
What's wrong with schools for the hearing impaired?
It was you who gave up on him.
You've never fulfilled your duty as a father.
Many of those who cared for us are here today.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone's support,
especially our hard-working faculty members.
As well as the parents and students
who've been with us along the way.
Thank you all.
Education is a profession
of love and passion.
While the whole world lay eyes on us and examine us,
I hope they could be a little more encouraging.
Unprovoked accusations
will only make it even more difficult
for us to run a special education school.
We are gathered here today
with many of our retired teachers and alumni
to celebrate our graduation ceremony.
Let's give them a warm welcome.
Firstly, our former art teacher,
Weng Zheng Yuan.
Congratulations on your recent achievement
at the Annecy Animation Film Festival.
Next, our former Chinese teacher, Duan Kang Yao.
It was nothing.
What are you talking about? How could it be nothing?
I don't want my grandparents to blame you.
It's nothing. I will be more careful next time.
Don't tell anyone.
Don't worry.
It'll be fine after Xiao Guang graduates.
Why? You said you'd leave her alone!
(School Sexual Assault Incident Report)
Mr. Wang,
did you inform the family?
Before Bei Bei came here,
she's always been locked inside by her grandparents.
They didn't know how to care for a deaf child.
And were afraid that there's danger out in the world.
Children at this age
are brimming with curiosity about sex.
Sometimes it's inevitable.
Inevitable that careless exploration will happen,
Nonetheless, they're all good kids.
They won't hurt each other.
So to get the kids back in school,
we must overlook these issues,
and pretend that nothing happened?
We've punished those who need to be punished.
We've started our sex education program,
and installed security cameras.
I have even repaired the bathroom,
What do you think I did all this for?
Mr. Wang,
the school isn't your enemy.
I know you want to help them,
and you want to solve problems.
But...
it takes time to do that.
Xiao Guang cried when he bullied me in the restroom.
Maybe he couldn't help it. He wasn't like this before.
He's a liar. And a bad person.
You've no idea the things he's done
He's just terrible!
(Xiao Guang does well in class and is popular in school.)
(Extremely guarded, stubborn,)
(reticent, unresponsive)
Excuse me,
are you Xiao Guang's mother?
I'm his teacher, Wang Da Jun. I just called.
Mr. Wang,
how did something like this happen?
Xiao Guang did say he's been stressed out from his studies,
but he has nothing to do with those news reports,
why would he get into a fight with others?
Why would he hurt himself?
Let me go see him first.
Why did you cut yourself?
Your mom said you're stressed from studying. Is it true?
Or is there something else troubling you?
I know about you and Bei Bei.
Why did you do it?
I was just playing.
Did you have fun?
Was it fun hurting yourself?
What were you thinking?
Mrs. Chang,
We will start investigating on this.
If what happened in the video is true,
Chang Cheng may face criminal responsibility.
We'll also question other students who were present
- to see if they're... - That's not my son.
That's not my son.
What's with the video?
It's exactly as what you saw.
He isn't that type of person. Go explain it to the teacher.
Explain what?
I don't care. Let's go straight things out.
I refuse. He did actually do it.
It's your fault anyway.
What do you mean?
What're you saying?
Xiao Guang told him if he refuses to do it,
he would do the same to you.
Let's transfer schools.
Transfer schools.
It's not my fault. I was forced to do it.
You'll do whatever people force you to?
What if they force you to kill someone?
Let's transfer!
No, I want to stay.
I want to stay!
What would they think of you
if they found out about the horrible thing you did?
You think I'm horrible?
You always think I'm abnormal
and that everyone else is better than me.
What's there to compare?
You are different from everyone else.
You kept comparing me with other people.
I don't need your sympathy.
(I know Xiao Guang's behind this. Just leave me be.)
(I can protect myself.)
Cheng...
Are you sure you want to do this?
The doctor said it'll all be over when I wake up.
It'll be fine.
Excuse me, is there a gynecology clinic around here?
I have no idea. You can ask the vendors at the other side.
Excuse me, is there a gynecology clinic around here?
Yes, gynecology clinic.
That way?
Excuse me, is there a gynecology clinic around?
- Gynecology clinic? - I don't think so.
The kind without a license.
I just asked them, and they said it's nearby.
How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?
Bei Bei...
I found her. It's Okay now.
They didn't finish the surgery.
The doctor is unlicensed, and the clinic isn't very clean.
Bei Bet's in a coma with risks of being infected.
Her grandparents are taking care of her.
Why did she go get a surgery?
Why?
Bei Bei said
if she gets a surgery done,
she won't have to worry about getting pregnant if they bully her again.
What are you doing?
Where were you last night?
That's none of your business.
Did you know that Xiao Guang cut his wrist again?
He's actually very unfortunate.
(Arts & Crafts Workshop)
Are you feeling better?
What's this?
Who is this boy?
It's Xiao Guang.
Da Da and Xiao Wai took the video without anyone knowing.
And said that it went on from the 4th to the 8th grade.
Xiao Guang told them not to tell anyone,
but they still went to see a teacher.
What did the teacher say?
The teacher told them to delete the video.
Why were we the only ones being punished?
We're not bad people.
I know.
No. Nothing.
There's been no new incident.
We've punished whoever needed to be punished.
Principal...
I have to go now.
Okay, it's done. Bye.
Yes?
Why did Weng Zheng Yuan retire early?
He was feeling ill at the time.
Is that so?
It wasn't because of Xiao Guang?
Where did you hear that?
I saw that video.
Where did you see it?
So you knew about it all along?
Is that why you forced him to retire early?
I thought you said you knew nothing about it.
Do you know how hard it was
to get rid of Mr. Weng?
Do you know what kind of connections he had?
What about Xiao Guang?
Have you talked to him about it?
You don't call solving problems
by installing a few security cameras
and getting rid of a problematic teacher.
You said it takes time to solve problems,
but Xiao Guang's problem has been sitting there for 2 years now.
If you really cared for him,
he wouldn't have turned out like this.
And nothing would have happened to Bei Bei.
If I didn't care for them,
why would I stay in this school for so many years?
I've had tons of other opportunities.
Mr. Wang Da Jun,
you're too naive.
You've no idea how hard it is to run a school.
Principal,
do you speak sign language?
I've never seen you used it ever since I got here.
Which is more important to you?
The students or the school?
About Mr. Weng...
I know what happened now.
Why didn't you say anything?
You don't trust adults?
I feel ashamed.
So on graduation day
did you do what you did to Bei Bei
because you were angry upon seeing him?
I hate him!
But on that day,
when I saw him
I actually felt...
...kind of happy.
Do you like Mr. Weng?
I don't want to like him.
I want to hate him.
A few days ago
he came to visit me at the hospital.
He came to see you at the hospital?
Did he do something to you?
I touched him.
I want to know
if there's something wrong with me.
There's nothing wrong with you.
Do you think someone like me...
deserves to live?
(Honor Student: Xiao Guang)
(Scandal! More sexual assault incidents exposed.)
(School principal fired for concealing the truth.)
(An anonymous: "former art teacher was a part of this.")
Shall we go?
(Half a year later)
You know what?
I'm almost a swimmer now.
Pretty cool, right?
I don't believe you.
You can't even hold your breath like I do.
That's not true!
Let's start a competition then.
You lost.
Don't be foolish. You can't cheat!
Let's play together.
"The Silent Forest"