Silence (2016)

Silence Poster

Two Jesuit priests travel to seventeenth century Japan which has, under the Tokugawa shogunate, banned Catholicism and almost all foreign contact.

Film Overview
"Silence" is a 2016 historic drama directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the 1966 novel of the very same name by Shusaku Endo. The engaging narrative unfolds around the central style of spiritual persecution under extreme situations. The lead character's undeviating faith and the story's exploration of spiritual doubt make it an extensive film that looks for to question the essence of devoutness and belief, while also offering an emotionally gripping tale of survival and sacrifice.

Plot Summary
Embed in the 17th century, "Silence" focuses on the journey of two Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, Sebastião Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Francisco Garupe (Adam Driver), who travel to Japan after they learn their mentor, Cristóvão Ferreira (Liam Neeson), renounced his faith under torture. The film depicts their struggle to spread Christianity in a land where it's seriously maltreated by the feudal federal government, promoting Buddhism as the state religious beliefs.

The priests witness the dreadful suffering of Christian villagers who are cruelly punished and eliminated for their beliefs. This enhances Rodrigues's determination to locate Ferreira and support the faith. However, they're eventually captured by officials led by the Inquisitor, Inoue Masashige (Issey Ogata).

Character Development
A considerable portion of the film is committed to Rodrigues's character development. At first, he is a figure of deep faith who is voluntarily prepared to go through martyrdom for his beliefs. However, as the story progresses, Rodrigues goes through a spiritual crisis. While in captivity, he goes through mental abuse by the Inquisitor, who requires him to renounce his faith to conserve the lives of the recorded villagers.

Conclusion
Rodrigues eventually encounters his mentor Ferreira, who has totally assimilated into Japanese culture and has actually denounced Christianity. In a twist, Ferreira argues that Christianity can not take root in the "swamp" of Japan. In an anguish-filled climax, Rodrigues, forced to choose in between personal faith and the lives of others, apostatizes to save the villagers from abuse.

Film's Themes
The styles of faith, the essence of religion, sacrifice, and cultural-religious clash form the foundation of "Silence". This movie profoundly examines faith - not glorifying it as an unshakeable construct however demonstrating it as fluid, susceptible, and prone to the scenarios, which can push one against religious beliefs and yet maintain the form of the divine within.

Conclusion
"Silence" is a powerful assessment of the paradox trip of faith. Through the lens of Scorsese, we are led to question and reflect on the depth and price of belief. Defined by powerful efficiencies, especially by Andrew Garfield, it tells the story of faith that's evaluated to its existential limitations. This film is an extensive and deeply moving examination of belief, doubt, martyrdom, and the human battle between keeping faith and renouncing it for the greater good.

Top Cast

  • Andrew Garfield (small)
    Andrew Garfield
    Sebastião Rodrigues / Okada San'emon
  • Adam Driver (small)
    Adam Driver
    Francisco Garupe
  • Liam Neeson (small)
    Liam Neeson
    Cristóvão Ferreira / Sawano Ch?an
  • Yosuke Kubozuka (small)
    Yosuke Kubozuka
    Kichijiro
  • Tadanobu Asano (small)
    Tadanobu Asano
    Interpreter
  • Issey Ogata (small)
    Issey Ogata
    Inoue Masashige
  • Shinya Tsukamoto (small)
    Shinya Tsukamoto
    Mokichi
  • Yoshi Oida (small)
    Yoshi Oida
    Ichizo
  • Ciarán Hinds (small)
    Ciarán Hinds
    Alessandro Valignano
  • Ryo Kase (small)
    Ryo Kase
    João / Chokichi
  • Nana Komatsu (small)
    Nana Komatsu
    Mónica / Haru