Martin Scorsese’s "Silence," adapted from Shûsaku Endô's novel and released in late 2016, depicts events set in 1640, following two Jesuit priests—played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver—as they travel to Japan. Their mission is to locate their mentor, portrayed by Liam Neeson, who rumors suggest abandoned his beliefs, and to investigate the condition of the persecuted Christian church. Issei Ogata appears as the Japanese inquisitor, exhibiting a disturbing yet seemingly rational demeanor. The Jesuits were established in 1540 as a Catholic missionary organization responding to the rise of Protestant evangelism; they played a significant role in the Roman counter-Reformation. Consequently, the religious practices shown in the film are distinctly Catholic—including confessions to priests and use of icons and rosaries—elements not found in the Bible. The movie evokes comparisons to films like "Black Robe" (1991), "The Mission" (1986), “Black Death,” and even “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957). If those appeal to you, you might find something to appreciate in "Silence," although it didn’t resonate with me. The filmmaking itself is undeniably excellent—the cinematography, cast, costumes, locations, and score are all top-notch—but I found the story lacking a certain spark and struggled to connect with the central character, despite Garfield's commendable performance. The film does offer some thought-provoking questions, like: Why would God permit such intense suffering of those who believe in Him? Why is He silent? Is that truly silence? Can someone who has denied their faith under torture or threat of death ever be reconciled? What does it mean to conceal one’s beliefs while living within a hostile culture? However, I found it hard to accept the notion that the Japanese were incapable of understanding a divine being beyond physical manifestations like the sun, sea, or mountains. While this concept might have been foreign to their societal norms, it seems unrealistic to believe no individual could grasp something so obvious (as described in Psalm 19:1 & Romans 1:20). While I’m somewhat relieved to have seen it, "Silence" felt strangely lifeless and stretched out; it's not a film I would want to watch again. There are many other films that explore similar themes with greater impact. Those who award this movie the highest possible rating likely hold a strong devotion to Scorsese’s work. The film has a running time of 161 minutes and was filmed in Taiwan and at the Cathedral Of Saint Paul In Macau, China. GRADE: C-

Source on TMDB