Hotel Silence () is a 2024 Canadian-Swiss drama film written and directed by Léa Pool, based on Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir's novel Hotel Silence. It stars Sébastien Ricard as a Canadian man confronting despair in a war-devastated country. The film was nominated for the Prix de Soleure at the 60th Solothurn Film Festival in 2025.
Synopsis The film follows Jean, a man in despair who travels from Canada to an unnamed war-devastated country in Europe intending to end his life, but gains a new perspective after encountering the resilience of the people at Hotel Silence.Anne-Frédérique Hébert-Dolbec, "«Hôtel Silence»: de l’ombre à la lumière". Le Devoir, March 22, 2024.
Cast The cast includes:Charles-Henri Ramond, "Hôtel Silence – Film de Léa Pool". Films du Québec, March 24, 2024.
Sébastien Ricard as Jean Lorena Handschin as Ana Jules Porier as Zoran Irène Jacob as Kristina
Louise Turcot as the mother Paul Ahmarani as the neighbour
Production The film was written and directed by Léa Pool, based on a novel by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir. It was produced by Lyla Films in co-production with Louise Productions Lausanne and had an approximate budget of C$5.3 million. Filming took place over 28 days, in France in November 2022, Switzerland in January 2023 and Quebec in February 2023.Charles-Henri Ramond, "Léa Pool tourne Hôtel silence". Films du Québec, February 8, 2023.
Reception Awards and nominations The film was nominated for the Prix de Soleure at the 60th Solothurn Film Festival in 2025.
Critical response Swissinfo wrote that the film had a simple story and dialogue, and that some scenes were not entirely convincing, but remained moving to the end. The review praised Mario Batkovic’s score as outstanding. WOZ wrote that Pool avoided several clichés, focusing instead on the relationships among the characters and their responses to one another’s suffering.
Festival screenings Hôtel Silence was released in Quebec cinemas on 29 March 2024.Manon Dumais, "La bande-annonce d’Hôtel Silence dévoilée". La Presse, November 24, 2023. In 2024, the film was screened at festivals including the 17th Festival du Film Francophone d’Angoulême, the 48th Hof International Film Festival and the 21st Reykjavík International Film Festival. In 2025, it was screened at the 60th Solothurn Film Festival.
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