“Both the poet and activist in Shen deserves to be heard.”
-De Standaard
selected praise for in pursuit of silence
“Half visual essay, half verbal investigation, “Silence” is thoughtful and informative as well as contemplative and restorative. It both tells you why you perhaps yearn for silence and shows you what it would look like if you could find it.”
Kennth Turan | Los Angeles Times
“…this elegant sermon by Patrick Shen on why we should dial down the racket of our daily lives will make you consider turning off and tuning out.”
Jeannette Catsoulis | New York Times
“As much a visual treat as an aural one, the film divides its time between using the tools of cinema to isolate and enhance the beauty of sounds and silence and exploring different schools of thought on the subject.”
-Scott Tobias | NPR
“…one of the most truly meditative and deeply inventive films of the year.”
-Kate Erbland | IndieWire
“”A beguiling, meditative and elegantly photographed documentary.”
– Joe Morgenstern | Wall Street Journal
“In Pursuit of Silence is a wonderfully shot film and one which is best experienced on a big screen where its images’ composition and acute sound mixing can be fully appreciated.”
Argun Ulgen | Pop Matters
reviews
- Film Independent | The Must-List: Six Films To Help You Stick With Your New Year’s Resolutions // January 2024
- Flickering Myth | Film Review // November 2016
- New Scientist // June 2016
- Austin Chronicle | SXSW Film Review // March 2016
- Huffington Post | A Quiet Movie With Much to Say // March 2016
- The Washington Post | Review of La Source // October 2013
- The Wrap | How Oscar Entry ‘La Source’ Launched a Campaign for Clean Water // Nov 2012
- LA Times | La Source Finds Power in Small Acts of Kindness // August 2012
- ComingSoon.net | DocuWeeks 2012 // August 2012
- Huffington Post | La Source Tells the Story of Janitor Who Brought Clean Water to Haiti // July 2012
- LA Weekly | Review of The Philosopher Kings // June 2010
- Pasadena Weekly | Filmmaker Profiles Eight Custodians Who Keep Great Institutions Running // March 2010
- San Francisco Chronicle | San Francisco Documentary Festival // October 2009
- East Bay Express | The Philosopher Kings Shows Us the Unseen Core of Our Society // October 2009
interviews (print + podcasts)
- LACHSA Master Class Podcast // October 2022
- Encountering Silence Podcast // January 2021
- Asian America | The Ken Fong Podcast // June 2020
- Encountering Silence Podcast // April 2020
- Encountering Silence Podcast // April 2018
- Encountering Silence Podcast // January 2018
- Spirituality & Health Magazine Podcast // Oct 2017
- Monocle 24 Radio // December 2016
- Screen Relish | Exclusive Interview with Patrick Shen // November 2016
- The State of Things (WUNC Public Radio) // July 2016
- SXSW | Filmmakers in Focus // February 2016
- Sonic Field | Interview with Director Patrick Shen // November 2014
- Patheos | Talking about Silence: An Interview with Patrick Shen // October 2014
- Designing Sound | Interview with Patrick Shen // June 2014
- SoundWorks Collection | The Sound and Music of La Source // July 2012
- Matador Network | Patrick Shen and The Philosopher Kings // March 2010
- Matador Network | Patrick Shen on the Power of Death Anxiety // Nov 2009
other
- TED | Putting Silence Under the Microscope // June 2016
- MovieMaker Magazine // August 2016
- CNN | Hero for Haiti // January 2015