Synopsis

Shot over the course of five years using only the natural light of the full moon, Sword of Silence is alternative filmmaking at its most mystical and in tune with the Earth. A mysterious dark figure walks through a world of endless moonlight. Wielding an object of ancient power, the traveller is driven by the call of a cosmic voice, guiding them through a twisted land inhabited by miscreants and wretches. This surreal dark fantasy was filmed in Queensland's hinterland with an unconventional method that involved shooting the whole film chronologically, writing and storyboarding along the way, and scheduling photography on the night of the full moon. The film used handmade practical effects, and each scene was reviewed and edited before the filmmakers would move ahead and write the next scene. The result is an extraordinarily atmospheric work unlike any Australian film before it, rich with esoteric symbology, a mesmerising soundscape and striking monochrome imagery.