Discórdia
By: Nani Brunini
Publisher: Pato Lógico Edicoes, Portugal 2021 (Our version from Kite Edicioni, Italy, 2023)
Format: Hardback
A silent portrayal of the power of words
"Almost everything depends on how you use your words". This is the text printed on the back cover of "Discórdia", which means "Disagreement". It is such a fascinating idea: To portray the power of our words in a wordless book? After reading the book, I am convinced that this might be the best way to acknowledge the power that lies in how we choose to talk to each other.
"Discórdia" starts with a couple walking and talking. By their body language and the size of the speech "bubbles", we understand they are disagreeing about something. Bypassers also enter the conversation, and Brunini´s precise rendition of the angry faces and frustrated body languge makes us understand that this is a big fight. But it is what they are saying that makes us understand the gravity of the situation: Some speak in red, and some in blue. So when the words mix, there should be purple. Instead the two colors stay separated in a growing, ominous cloud, a perfect picture of the polarization of today´s political climate.
In social media, angry statements often take a life of their own, growing into something that was never intended but can no longer be controlled. Brunini portrays this masterfully by letting the giant speech bubble turn into a monster that devours everyone present. They are left in darkness with no colors to be seen anywhere. One wise character has the key: He demonstates that words can be used not only to create monsters, but also to create joy and beauty.
"Discórdia" is such an impressive debut by Brunini. She masters the wordless format to perfection, with visual clues and illustrations that are complex enough to keep adult readers interested and at the same time clear enough so that the book also works really well with children.
This is an important book. In today´s toxic climate of ecco-chambers and conflict, we need to be reminded that how we choose to use our words really matter. I have read it for teenagers and also for five-year olds. The teenage group were very engaged, and it inspired an interesting conversation on politics and how to do debates. The five-year-olds told each other about how scary they find it when adults are fighting... (They were also very focused on the little dog that is found in almost all the pictures!)
I think the key to the book´s success is that Brunini refrains from over-explaining and simplifying, she trusts the reader to make their own stories. This way, "Discórdia" has become a book that are useful in all settings where people communicate.
