“The Quietest Year” explores the impact of noise on some communities in Vermont

What comes to mind when you think of Vermont? You might picture an idyllic environment with beautiful trees, friendly neighbors, progressive values, and quietness. But after watching the documentary “The Quietest Year,” you might change your mind. Director Karen Akins wanted to make a humorous short film about her own early-morning disruptions from a neighbor’s rooster. But after she dug into the topic of noise nuisance, she uncovered a few jaw-dropping stories about how noise impacted several communities in Vermont.

Most of this documentary was filmed during the COVID pandemic, a time when many of us were in lockdown. During the lockdown, external activity was reduced, and more people were home and keenly tuned into the soundscape around them.

Noise can divide neighbors

Unfortunately, noise can be a polarizing topic. Your empathetic neighbors can become defensive and adamant when asked to stop a noise-nuisance issue. Local governments might resist creating or enforcing noise ordinances. Or they make exceptions for some citizens but not for others.

In this documentary, you’ll also see how some local noise issues went beyond a mere nuisance to more serious health concerns, both physical and psychological.

Featured guests

Featured experts in the film include:

See the trailer

“The Quietest Year” is a terrific documentary filled with compelling stories and interesting interviews. The issues are universal — not unique to Vermont. But you’ll see that you’re not guaranteed to escape noise problems simply by moving from a densely populated urban area. It just might follow you to your “dream home.”

Watch the film

You can stream the film for $15 from the Show and Tell website, or find out how your organization can host a screening.

Learn more

  • Burlington Free Press (2019): “F-35 in Vermont: Number of homes in high-noise zone triples, sound mitigation years away”
  • AOL/Gannett: “Vermont Air National Guard presents plan to cut down on F-35 noise”
  • WOWKTV: “Vermont documentary filmmaker, Karen Akins, wins Gaia Prize for Environmental Filmmaking”
  • Soundproofist: “Gunfire noise in Rhode Island”
The Quietest Year – a documentary
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