Le silence de la forêt (lit. 'The Silence of the Forest/The Forest') is a 2003 Central African Republican film directed by Bassek Ba Kobhio and Didier Ouenangare. It was the first-ever feature film of the Central African Republic and co-produced with Cameroon and Gabon, the two countries where filming took place. The film is adapted from the novel by Étienne Goyémidé of the same title and largely takes place among the ethnic minority group of the Biaka people, a nomadic pygmy group. It is considered the first film to address the racism of modern-day Africans towards this group.
The story follows Gonaba (Eriq Ebouaney) a disillusioned civil servant in Bangui who, seeking meaning in his life, leaves everything behind to live among the Biaka. His misguided attempt to apply his Western-formed idealism is met with resistance from deeply entrenched traditions. The film also stars Nadège Beausson Diagne with a film score by the famed Congolese musician Manu Dibango.