Sylvia (1984)

Overview

The film shows the concentrated faces of a brigade of women above the microscopes, the sudden bursts of laughter, the familiar conversations during work breaks. Then Sylvia with the pretty face, who is too fat and also handicapped by a hip condition, tells us how she imagines her husband: He should be honest, strong and loving. And none of the women laugh. The 26-year-old disabled Sylvia, one of the strong personalities in this brigade, is accepted by everyone because she is honest, reliable and collegial. She is sometimes sad, but almost always infectiously cheerful. "How can you live as an eternal sourpuss," she says. "Sylvi, why don't you sing?" one of her colleagues calls out while she's working. Sylvia has a beautiful voice. But she doesn't sing in front of the camera.