18/08/2025 - Marie-Elsa Sgualdo’s first feature tells the story of a 15-year-old girl who becomes pregnant after she is raped and defies her oppressive Protestant community

Lila Gueneau in Silent Rebellion (© Box Productions/Pierre Daendliker)

International sales agent Salaud Morisset has acquired world rights to Silent Rebellion [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the debut feature by Switzerland’s Marie-Elsa Sgualdo. The film is set to celebrate its world premiere in the new Spotlight sidebar of the upcoming Venice Film Festival (27 August-6 September – see the news).

Silent Rebellion tells the story of 15-year-old Emma, who becomes pregnant after a rape. Defying her oppressive rural Protestant community, Emma embarks on a journey of self-determination, transforming her trauma into a catalyst for emancipation while confronting the moral hypocrisy of her village and the lingering shadows of World War II. This feature stems from the growing movement of women filmmakers who are reinterpreting 20th-century historical events through a feminist lens, highlighting women’s narratives that have often been overlooked.

“I’m genuinely thrilled that Marie-Elsa Sgualdo’s work will be unveiled in Venice with Silent Rebellion,” said François Morisset. “In the spirit of recent European films that revisit 20th-century history – such as Small Body [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laura Samani
film profile], Vermiglio [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Maura Delpero
film profile] and Sound of Falling [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Marie-Elsa’s debut feature resonates deeply with contemporary issues. Through the fierce determination of Emma, portrayed with breath-taking depth and charisma by newcomer Lila Gueneau, the film explores the price of emancipation, the resilience of the human spirit and the vital force of youth. Two stars are born: a director and an actress, both shining with rare intensity.”

Silent Rebellion was produced by Elena Tatti and Nicolas Wittwer for Box Productions (Switzerland), and co-produced by Hélicotronc (Belgium), Offshore (France) and RTS – Radio Télévision Suisse, with backing from Eurimages, the Council of Europe, the Federal Office of Culture (FOC), Cinéforom, the Loterie Romande, the Film and Audiovisual Centre of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Shelter Prod, Taxshelter.be (ING), the Belgian Federal Government’s Tax Shelter, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, the CNC and MEDIA Desk Switzerland.

Outside the Box will be distributing the pic in Switzerland.

Check out our exclusive trailer below: