Synopsis

Rescued from his abusive father, 7-year-old Onyok is brought to a shelter for abused children run by Amanda. She realizes that Onyok is unable to speak due to physical trauma. On his first day at the shelter, Onyok hears the faint sound of a violin playing from afar. This strange yet beautiful music immediately captures his attention. The violin is being played by Amanda’s reclusive brother, Ariel, who turned away from his career as a concert violinist and returned home, burdened with a deep guilt. This marks the beginning of a simple yet touching friendship between Onyok and Ariel. Ariel’s initial cynicism about his sister’s dedication to abused children slowly melts as he recognizes Onyok’s natural affinity for the violin. Discovering the boy's hidden talent, Ariel begins teaching him. However, Amanda becomes concerned as Ariel begins pushing Onyok beyond his limits, potentially preventing the child from facing his own emotional wounds and distancing him from his new friend, Shirley. As time passes, Ariel's hidden guilt over the loss of his beloved is revealed. Is he truly helping Onyok heal, or is he projecting his shattered dreams onto him? Meanwhile, Onyok’s father is undergoing rehabilitation, and the shelter prepares for their reconciliation. Ariel eventually realizes that Onyok does not belong to him — and that their friendship must embrace both of their separate yet strangely resonant journeys.

Director

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  • Ellen Ongkeko Marfil
  • Ellen Ongkeko Marfil majored in broadcasting in college and recently founded Erasto Films with the aim of revitalizing mainstream cinema in Singapore through alternative filmmaking. Her documentaries have been featured in numerous film festivals, and her work Angels, which portrays a visually impaired couple’s struggle to protect their family against an indifferent society, drew widespread attention. Her first feature-length narrative film, Stray Cats (2005), was invited to prestigious festivals such as Fribourg, New York, Chicago, Montreal, and Berlin.