Maria in Silence (1973)

Born deaf, the lonely and shunned young woman, Maria Gerali, is struggling to eke out an existence and provide for her silver-haired father, somewhere in a small and rugged island of the Aegean Sea. Then, a chance encounter with the isle's progressive and compassionate new elementary school teacher, Grigoris, will pave the way for change, as the open-minded academic sets his sights on educating Maria, teaching her the sign language. However, Maria's silent feral beauty has already caught the attention of the community's most influential member, and as a result, his disgusting romantic advances will soon lead to abuse and a vicious sexual assault. Now, once more, the savaged victim will have to face all alone the prejudice and the contempt of her fellow townsfolk, unable to defend herself. Can Grigoris furnish a shred of hope?