Silence (2016) [Movie Review]



Dir: Martin Scorcese
Starring: Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver
Dur: 2 hrs 42 mins
Genre: Drama
PG: People are shown enduring torture and death
Rating: 6/10

The name of the film reflects adroitly its nature. It tells the dramatic story of the last two Jesuit missionaries to Japan. The film is perhaps only the second of its kind after Mission, which depicts the life of Jesuits missionaries in South America, and hence the director and crew need to be commended for their choice of bringing this story to the silver screen. The film may not appeal to non-Christians as it is explicitly Christian in words and gestures but it does have some star power. Andrew and Adam Driver are brilliant. The story is poignant and startling at once. It is bound to leave ‘grounded’ people (I mean people who are knowledgeable and passionate about the faith) like myself, shocked. It took me a few days to overcome my initial shock and some of the effects still linger.

I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t seen the film but every Christian, in my opinion must take the time to view the film. It is challenging yet real. It gives a pretty good description of what it is like to be Christian under persecution. The background is 19th century Japan. Two young and zealous Jesuit priests beseech their superior to permit them to go to Japan in search of their mentor and idol, who is believed to have apostatized. Their adventures are the substance of the film. The dialogues are strong and potent but it is the actions that really make an impression. The outcome is shocking and true to the facts.

The film has some good stuff to offer. There is plenty to reflect about. For starters, one can reflect on whether or not one takes one’s faith for granted. The film is rather long but the experiences of the people depicted in it are sure to tug at heart strings.   

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