Speechless tells the story of a young westerner who one day is found naked on the banks of a river in a remote place in the south of China. During his convalescence he remains silent, haunted by nightmares and scenes from the past. Despite having lost the ability to speak, this mysterious character is able to create an emotional connection with Jiang, a hospital worker, who decides to help him when he is about to be transferred to a psychiatric institution. To do so, Jiang sends him to the village where his uncle lives, where accidentally the reason for his silence is discovered..

This is Simon Chung's third film, following End of Love (2008), shown at the Panorama section in Berlin, and in it he explores the unpredictable nature of love, which can leave a person speechless.