Father Valignano allows them go into Japan, but warns that they will be the last priests sent to the country. They are guided by Kichijiro (Kubozuka), a drunk Japanese man who wants to go home. They are hidden by the citizens of Tomogi, who are hungry for the priests influence, but afraid of the Inquisitor (Ogata). The priests are hidden by day and tend to the villagers by night. Can they find Father Ferreira and survive their trip to Japan?
In 1966, Shusaku Endo wrote the novel "Silence" about the hidden Christians in Japan ("Kakure Kirishitan") following the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1600s. Father Ferreira was a real person during this time, the other individuals depicted in the novel are fictional.
The novel was a huge success and won the Tanizaki Prize. Endo adapted the novel into a stage play. It was also adapted into an opera, another novel, and several movies. Martin Scorsese read the novel and it became his passion project. He was interested in making it into a film in the 1990s, but his dream was not fulfilled until 2014. They filmed in Taiwan and had to contend with weather issues.
It is not an easy film to watch. It is brutal and doesn't shy away from showing the harsh reality of the torture the Japanese Christians had to endure. It is intense and nerve wracking, but not overly bloody. The story is slow and deliberate and fully uses it's 2 hour 41 minute running time.
Andrew Garfield takes the lead as Father Rodrigues. The film follows his journey / life in Japan and his letters serve as the narration through much of the film. He is a complicated and sympathetic character, changing most of his views from the beginning of the film. He is joined by Adam Driver as Father Garupe. He is a more solemn and emotional character, while still sympathetic. Liam Neeson's Father Ferreira opens the film, but does not interact with the characters until 2 hours into the film. Yosuke Kubozuka is the conflicted Kichijiro, who pops into Rodrigues' life throughout the film. Issey Ogata is the feared inquisitor, an articulate and imposing man. He is aided by Tadanobu Asano as the Interpreter, who is the friendly but exacting interpreter for Rodrigues confession.
Garfield and Driver undercover disturbing physical transformations. At the beginning they are priests in Portugal, with clean robes and faces. That all changes when they enter Japan where they are hungry and dirty, physically wasting away.
The film is very quiet. There is minimal music and the dialog is sparse in places. Many conversations are hushed and secret, but there are moments of heart-breaking screams and anguish. Those moments have a greater impact since the majority of the film is quiet.
The film asks difficult questions about faith and belief, without offering clear answers. And despite the reputation of it's director and stars, the film is not widely known. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Cinematography, along with other international awards... but only won a single award from the London Film Critics Circle.
The film is an experience and leaves you thinking... it's hard to watch, but incredibly well-made and worth checking out.
Silence (2016) 161 minutes
Rating: R for some disturbing violent content
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Andrew Garfield as Sebastiao Rodrigues
Adam Driver as Francisco Francisco Garupe
Liam Neeson as Father Cristovao Ferreira
Tadanobu Asano as Interpreter
Ciaran Hinds as Father Valignano
Issey Ogata as Inoue Masashige
Shin'ya Tsukamoto as Mokichi
Yoshi Oida as Ichizo
Yosuke Kubozuka as Kichijiro
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