Silence (2016)
7.126 /10
2972 Reviews
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Two Jesuit priests travel to seventeenth century Japan which has, under the Tokugawa shogunate, banned Catholicism and almost all foreign contact.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Rodrigues
... Garupe
... Ferreira
... Interpreter
... Father Valignano
User reviews
**_Great filmmaking, cast and locations, but strangely inert (overlong) story_**
Released in late 2016 and directed by Martin Scorsese based on the novel by Shûsaku Endô, "Silence" chronicles events in 1640 when two Jesuit priests (Andrew Garfield & Adam Driver) journey to Japan to check on the persecuted church and find out what happened to their mentor, whom it is rumored fell from the faith (Liam Neeson). Issei Ogata is on hand as the sadistic, but seemingly reasonable Japanese inquisitor.
The Jesuits were a society of Catholic missionaries started in 1540 in response to the spreading evangelism of the Protestant reformers. They were an essential part of the Roman counter-Reformation. With this in mind, the seeming Christianity portrayed in the movie is decidedly Catholic in nature, with the requisite unbiblical stuff, like confessions to priests, icons, rosary beads, etc.
In tone and theme, "Silence" is reminiscent of movies like the excellent "Black Robe" (1991), the solid "The Mission" (1986) and the surprisingly great "Black Death" (see my review). There are also elements of "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957). If you appreciate any of these films you might appreciate "Silence," but it didn't work for me. Sure, Scorsese is a great auteur and so the filmmaking is top-of-the-line – the cinematography, the cast, the costuming, locations and score. Unfortunately, the story's not compelling and I never connected with the main character, despite Garfield's quality performance.
There's some worthy mindfood (or spiritfood) to glean from the proceedings, however, like: Why does God allow the excruciating persecution of His faithful? Why is He silent? IS He silent? Can a believer be restored after cowardly denying the Lord in the face of torture/death? Can a Christian hide their faith while living in a thoroughly hostile culture? But I didn't buy for a second that the Japanese couldn't conceive of a Deity that transcends physical nature, like the sun, sea or mountain. While the idea may have been alien to their communal mindset at the time, it's absurd to think that no individual man or woman could discern the obvious (see Psalm 19:1 & Romans 1:20).
Although I'm sorta glad I saw it, "Silence" is curiously dull and overlong; and so I never care to see it again. There are far superior movies that tackle similar topics. Those who give it the highest possible rating must be fanatical devotees of Scorsese.
The movie runs 161 minutes and was shot in Taiwan and the Cathedral Of Saint Paul In Macau, China.
GRADE: C-
Director:
Release Date:
2016-12-22
Run Time:
161 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
Silence
**_Great filmmaking, cast and locations, but strangely inert (overlong) story_**
Released in late 2016 and directed by Martin Scorsese based on the novel by Shûsaku Endô, "Silence" chronicles events in 1640 when two Jesuit priests (Andrew Garfield & Adam Driver) journey to Japan to check on the persecuted church and find out what happened to their mentor, whom it is rumored fell from the faith (Liam Neeson). Issei Ogata is on hand as the sadistic, but seemingly reasonable Japanese inquisitor.
The Jesuits were a society of Catholic missionaries started in 1540 in response to the spreading evangelism of the Protestant reformers. They were an essential part of the Roman counter-Reformation. With this in mind, the seeming Christianity portrayed in the movie is decidedly Catholic in nature, with the requisite unbiblical stuff, like confessions to priests, icons, rosary beads, etc.
In tone and theme, "Silence" is reminiscent of movies like the excellent "Black Robe" (1991), the solid "The Mission" (1986) and the surprisingly great "Black Death" (see my review). There are also elements of "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957). If you appreciate any of these films you might appreciate "Silence," but it didn't work for me. Sure, Scorsese is a great auteur and so the filmmaking is top-of-the-line – the cinematography, the cast, the costuming, locations and score. Unfortunately, the story's not compelling and I never connected with the main character, despite Garfield's quality performance.
There's some worthy mindfood (or spiritfood) to glean from the proceedings, however, like: Why does God allow the excruciating persecution of His faithful? Why is He silent? IS He silent? Can a believer be restored after cowardly denying the Lord in the face of torture/death? Can a Christian hide their faith while living in a thoroughly hostile culture? But I didn't buy for a second that the Japanese couldn't conceive of a Deity that transcends physical nature, like the sun, sea or mountain. While the idea may have been alien to their communal mindset at the time, it's absurd to think that no individual man or woman could discern the obvious (see Psalm 19:1 & Romans 1:20).
Although I'm sorta glad I saw it, "Silence" is curiously dull and overlong; and so I never care to see it again. There are far superior movies that tackle similar topics. Those who give it the highest possible rating must be fanatical devotees of Scorsese.
The movie runs 161 minutes and was shot in Taiwan and the Cathedral Of Saint Paul In Macau, China.
GRADE: C-
Cast & Crew of
Silence
Cast
... Rodrigues
... Garupe
... Ferreira
... Interpreter
... Father Valignano
... Old Samurai / Inoue
... Mokichi
... Ichizo
... Kichijiro
... Unzen Samurai (Uneme)
... Prisoner Augustinian Friar #2
... Prisoner Augustinian Friar #1
... Prisoner Franciscan Friar
... Prisoner Augustinian Friar #3
... Prisoner Japanese Jesuit
... Chinese Businessman (Mr. Chun)
... Tomogi Villager #1 (Yohei)
... Tomogi Villager #2 (Toukichi)
... Ichizo's Wife (Tomi)
... Tomogi Woman (Tsune)
... Tomogi Husband (Kasuke)
... Tomogi Wife (Mitsu)
... Tomogi Village Woman (Hiro)
... Goto Man #1 (Kuro)
... Goto Man #2 (Haku)
... Kichijiro Sister at Stake (Tae)
... Kichijiro Sister #2 (Hisa)
... Kichijiro Father (Kichizo)
... Kichijiro Mother (Naka)
... Kichijiro Brother #2 (Kichita)
... Tomogi Villager
... Tomogi Villager
... Tomogi Villager
... Tomogi Villager
... Boatman
... Goto Swimming Man
... Old Goto Man (Mosuke)
... Samurai Commander
... Tomogi Hostage #3 (Yahachi)
... Monica (Haru)
... Juan (Chokichi)
... Christian Prisoner (Tobei)
... Christian Prisoner (Kiku)
... Christian Prisoner (Mataichi)
... Inoue's Attendant
... Nagasaki Juggler
... Nagasaki Child
... Jeering Man
... Prison Guard #1
... Samurai #1
... Prison Guard #2
... Prison Official
... Samurai at Beach #1
... Samurai at Beach #2
... Samurai in Boat
... Old Buddhist Priest
... Large Man
... Vendor's Cries (voice)
... Vendor's Cries (voice)
... Prison Guard #3
... Dieter Albrecht
... Rodrigues' Wife
... Edo Guard (uncredited)
... Doshin (uncredited)
... Carpenter (uncredited)
Crew
... Screenplay
... Novel
... Screenplay
... Producer
... Producer
... Producer
... Producer
... Producer
... Producer
... Editor
... Production Design
... Production Office Assistant
... Production Office Assistant
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Associate Producer
... Co-Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Associate Producer
... Co-Producer
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Casting
... Supervising Art Director
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Art Direction
... Set Decoration
... Makeup Effects
... Makeup Effects
... Makeup Department Head
... Post Production Supervisor
... Unit Production Manager
... Production Supervisor
... Production Supervisor
... Unit Production Manager
... Second Unit
... Set Designer
... Conceptual Design
... Conceptual Design
... Set Designer
... Painter
... Greensman
... Special Effects
... Compositors
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Stunt Coordinator
... Utility Stunts
... Camera Operator
... Grip
... Still Photographer
... Gaffer
... Grip
... Second Unit Cinematographer
... Grip
... Grip
... Rigging Gaffer
... First Assistant Camera
... First Assistant Camera
... Camera Operator
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Editorial Staff
... Editorial Staff
... Editorial Staff
... Location Manager
... Transportation Captain
... Other
... Set Production Assistant
... Legal Services
... Production Coordinator
... Actor's Assistant
... Legal Services
... Finance
... Finance
... Script Supervisor
... Set Production Assistant
... Dialect Coach
... Legal Services
... Production Controller
... Security
... Legal Services
... Other
... Director of Photography
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Costume Design
... Digital Intermediate
... Digital Intermediate
... Music Supervisor
... Music Supervisor
... Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Makeup Artist
... Director
... Key Grip
... Assistant Director
... Concept Artist
... Makeup & Hair
... Key Makeup Artist
... Key Hair Stylist
... Makeup Artist
... Makeup & Hair
... Special Effects Makeup Artist
... Makeup Designer
... Hair Designer
... Second Unit Director
... Second Unit First Assistant Director
... Third Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Second Second Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Third Assistant Director
... Second Second Assistant Director
... Concept Artist
... Concept Artist
... Set Designer
... Assistant Set Decoration
... Sound Effects Editor
... Foley Artist
... Assistant Sound Editor
... ADR Coordinator
... Sound Designer
... Foley Supervisor
... First Assistant Sound Editor
... ADR Editor
... Dialogue Editor
... ADR Mixer
... ADR Recordist
... Sound Mixer
... Foley Editor
... Stunt Double
... Stunt Coordinator
... Stunt Double
... Second Assistant "A" Camera
... Assistant Camera
... Lighting Technician
... Second Unit Director of Photography
... First Assistant "B" Camera
... Lighting Technician
... First Assistant "A" Camera
... Casting Associate
... Costume Supervisor
... Associate Editor
... Assistant Editor
... Music Editor
... Orchestrator
... Title Designer
... Unit Publicist
... Property Master
... Marine Coordinator
... Original Music Composer
... Original Music Composer
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