The Tribe

Sergei, a deaf mute, enrolls in a stern boarding school for the deaf where status is earned through silent codes and hard edge cruelty. The film follows his ascent through the school's hidden ranks, where a criminal faction called The Tribe pulls the strings. As he takes part in several robberies, he climbs higher within the group and finds himself entangled with Anya, one of the Chief's confidants, whose allure pulls him deeper into the code he never chose. The story unfolds with stark restraint, relying on gestures, glances, and carefully composed imagery rather than spoken words to chart power, loyalty, and the price of belonging.

Released in 2014, The Tribe is directed by Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi and based on an original screenplay. It follows Sergei, a deaf mute, as he enters a strict boarding school and is drawn into a brutal youth crime world led by a feared faction.

The film stands out for its largely silent narrative, carried by sign language and uninterrupted long takes. Its stark, image driven approach drew attention in international festivals and helped spark conversations about deaf cinema and the social underside of closed communities within Eastern Europe.

Critics praised the film for its unflinching look at power and loyalty, and for performances that carry weight without spoken dialogue. The result is a challenging, immersive drama that tests viewers while offering a raw, human lens on a hidden world.