On the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tony (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), a Hong Kong neuroscientist conducting research at a German university, observes a botanical garden’s ancient gingko tree one lonesome and chilly evening. The mysterious arboreal entity enchants him, leading him to a synthesis between scientific pursuit and the beauty of nature. Tony is not the first to feel the pull of that tree, the quiet and enduring witness to the passage of time and ultimately a leafy companion to people whose connection to the environment is inseparable. Ildiko Enyedi’s ethereal cinematic triumph captures the essence of humanity across more than a century, a triptych of stories that take place in 1908, 1972, and 2020. With a mesmerizing array of cinematographic styles, Silent Friend creates an evocative portrait of the evolution of intellectual thought and irrepressible curiosities. Léa Seydoux costars.