Silent Friend (2026)

On the grounds of a medieval German university town looms an imposing Ginkgo biloba, a tree whose longevity stands in marked contrast to three intimate, human-scaled stories. In 1908, the university’s first female student gains admission into the prestigious botany department, confronting the sexism of both professors and peers. In 1972, amidst counterculture movements, a reserved student finds his attention captured by a fellow housemate and the geranium plant she studies. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a neuroscientist from Hong Kong secures the help of a renowned botanist for an experiment on the old ginkgo tree.

Released Jan. 15, 2026 145 min 15+

Genres: Biography, Drama, History

Keywords: soundmix.dolby-digital, aspectratio.1-85-1, awards.festival-venice-winner, imdb.botanical-garden, mdblist.has-trailer, imdb.tree, imdb.garden, mdblist.fresh

Production Companies: Pandora Film, Inforg-M&M Film, Galatée Films, Rediance, Allons Voir + 2 more, ARTE France Cinéma, ZDF/Arte

Country: Germany
Production Countries: Belgium, China, Germany, France, Hungary
Languages: German, Cantonese, English