Silence of the Heart (1984) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Richard Michaels

Writer:

Phil Penningroth (written by)

Release Date:

30 October 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Ken goes to kill himself at the same spot Skip did, but Skips parents show up, and talk him out of it.

Plot Keywords:

Suicide | Teen

Cast

Mariette Hartley	...	Barbara Lewis
Dana Hill	...	Cindy Lewis
Howard Hesseman	...	Carl Lewis
Chad Lowe	...	Skip Lewis
Silvana Gallardo	...	Alice Roberti
Elizabeth Berridge	...	Penny
Alexandra Powers	...	Andrea
Charlie Sheen	...	Ken
Ray Girardin	...	Harris
Jim Boyle	...	Public Worker
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Monica
Melissa Hayden	...	Rachel
Rad Daly	...	Basketball Player
Steve Alterman	...	Williams
Casey Siemaszko	...	Jeff

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Monrovia High School - 845 W. Colorado Boulevard, Monrovia, California, USA

Company:

David A. Simons Productions

Soundtrack:

Jump (For My Love)

Wrenching telefilm about teen suicide

Not many people watched the teen-suicide TV-movie "Surviving" in 1985, simply because they had already seen this one and felt the subject had been done appropriate justice (in fact, both films are excellent). This tentative effort is cautious but very sincere. It features down-to-earth suburban parents shocked over their son's self-inflicted death, hurt and confused in the aftermath while trying to deal with their mercurial daughter and the boy's troubled best friend (Charlie Sheen, doing solid work). It's heartfelt and well-acted, especially by Mariette Hartley as the mom (she's a crumbling tower of strength, and gives her lines such a realistic spin you may hear your own mother talking). Worth seeking out.