Beyond Silence

In this real-time, one-room drama, Eva (24), a deaf PhD student, arrives at the office of Sandrine (54), the university study advisor.
Eva comes to report sexual abuse by her professor. Her sister Anna (23) is with her, acting as her sign language interpreter. Sandrine is caught off guard and refers her to the university’s confidential advisor, but Eva refuses to speak to a man. Reluctantly, Sandrine engages, warning that filing a complaint is unlikely to lead to consequences and urging a more pragmatic path. Eva begins to waver, but Anna won’t let her retreat.

As the conversation intensifies, Sandrine’s tone hardens and she subtly shifts responsibility onto Eva. Sensing there’s more beneath the surface, Eva starts to see through Sandrine’s carefully maintained composure. Whatever Sandrine is protecting, it isn’t Eva.

When she finally reveals what happened behind closed doors, Sandrine’s visible inability to respond – and her quiet despair – becomes the catalyst for Eva to reclaim her voice. Only after the door closes behind the two young women does Sandrine’s mask fully break, and the emotions she has long buried rise to the surface.