Though PTA made a name for himself with elaborate and technically complex filmmaking, one of his defining trademarks is a simple one – letting his camera linger on a silent character.

While many filmmakers rely on dialogue to convey poignancy or gravity, PTA allows his lens to absorb a character’s silence. They may be watching, they may be listening, or or they may be in utter shock, but the result is the same; we feel the moment. Here is a look at PTA’s lingering and reflective silence.

Director