See It at the Movies

Silence

Posted 1/25/17

SILENCE * * * (Scorsese's long, insufferable look at faith) Martin Scorsese's fascinating, but long and often insufferable examination of faith, is one of those classic films that you may not completely enjoy but will be mesmerized by it. Andrew

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See It at the Movies

Silence

Posted

SILENCE

* * * ½

(Scorsese's long, insufferable look at faith)

Martin Scorsese's  fascinating, but long and often insufferable examination of faith, is one of those classic films that you may not completely enjoy but will be mesmerized by it.

Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver play Father Sebastian Rodriguez and Father Francisco Garupe, two Portuguese priests who travel to Japan in 1633 to find their missing mentor (Liam Neeson). The Japanese have tortured and killed thousands of Christians who were converted by missionaries, but many small villages continue to practice the faith in secret. Some are given the opportunity to renounce their faith by ceremoniously stepping on the image of Christ.

The movie is a contrast of beauty (the incredible landscapes and seashores) and the ugliness of brutal torture. If you have a weak stomach, beheadings, drownings and death by fire may be difficult to watch.

The priests move from village to village, saying mass and hearing confessions, but are forced to hide during the daylight hours. Making little progress in finding their mentor, they split up and eventually both are captured.

We follow Father Sebastian as he is interrogated by the Grand Inquisitor, who questions his beliefs and faith. The villagers who have converted to Christianity are given a chance for redemption. If they refuse, they are brutally tortured and murdered as the priest is forced to look on.

The priest's faith is pushed to the limit, but he refuses to break. Finally, he meets up with his mentor and faced with the ultimate test. It is a difficult confrontation, raising questions about how far a person would go to uphold his faith and convictions.

"Silence" is often a very difficult movie to watch and may not be for everyone, but it is an important movie and one that serious moviegoers and religious scholars should see.

Rated a very big R, with extreme violence and torture.

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