Children Without a Voice (v2) is about a Sleeping Beauty—a fictional character who represents one of several hundred refugee children who have migrated to Sweden. 
These children fall into a catatonic state, known as Resignation Syndrome, after their families are repeatedly denied asylum. The violence they have witnessed in their native countries combined with the threat of deportation causes their bodies to shut down as a form of self-preservation that can last for months or even years. 
They often begin to awaken from their trauma-induced condition only when they understand that their families have gained permanent residence and are safe.
Split between two screens, the narrative resists resolution. By playing both the narrative of the past and the narrative of the present simultaneously the diptych presentation of the story emphasizes the unpastness of the past and explores the idea of traumatic displacement as an ongoing state rather than an event with a clear beginning and end.
Digital video, 10 minutes, color and black and white
© 2022 Germantown Films
Children Without a Voice (v2)
Credits
Cast
Sleeping Beauty
Carmen Tate
Mother
Julie Leskiv
Father
Joey Arena
Brother
Roman Tate
Abductor 1
SCOTT DAVIS
Abductor 2
CHRIS PETTY
Perpetrator
TIM KELTY
Family Friend
Lucia Clark
Doctor
Robin Burke
Teacher
Rolan Whitt
School Friends
Viktoria Leskiv
Cameron Wade


Production
Writer and Director
Ron Schildknecht
Director of Photography
PAUL PEREZ
Production Designer and Location Manager
Meghan Glasper
Assistant Production Designer
Flora Schildknecht
Assistant Director
Hannah Goodwin
Additional Camera
Ron Schildknecht
Makeup
MATT GOODLETT
Editor
Ron Schildknecht

With Gratitude
Amy Broyles
Amy Cody
Dancers Center for Training
Beth Hall

Victor Glasper
John Hardesty
Dr. Elisabeth Hultcrantz
Kentucky College of Art & Design
Lori Larusso
Louisville Orchestra
Teddy Abrams
Aldy Milliken
Norton Healthcare
Randy Hamilton
Doug Bartholomew
Karl Danielson
Elise Fassler
Neil Feldmeier
Keith Polston
Paula Sheets

Whitney Perry
Flora Schildknecht
Hugo Schildknecht
Leslie Tate
Village Manor Apartments
Beth Crouser 
Megan Wade
Back to Top