Silence: A Faith Based Drama That Ranks Among The Best
Why do we believe in the things we do? Is it our experience or are we just naturally inclined to think a certain way since birth? These conversations about faith and culture are a common theme in "Silence" and rarely does it have an answer to those questions. It's up to the audience to come to their own conclusion of what they believe and why they think what character or characters are right and wrong. Simply put, it's a masterpiece, that not only is a perfectly crafted film, but a daring one at that.
"Silence" is based on the book written by Shusaku Endo, who based it on his experience with being a Japanese Catholic in the 17th century. Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Garrpe (Adam Driver) play two jesuit priests wanting to go to Japan to find Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson) and spread their belief of Catholicism in Japan. But there is hesitation from the two young jesuit priests, as Catholicism in Japan was outlawed and anyone believing in it was kept hostage. From there it's an extremely tense and thought provoking tale that never seems to meander considering its extensive length.
Andrew Garfield, who also starred in the outstanding "Hacksaw Ridge", hits another homerun with his tremendous performance. Unlike "Hacksaw Ridge" the character he plays is a lot more complicated as an individual, and by the end you will question his motives and aspirations. Also Adam Driver is great and the always good Liam Neeson has a few powerful scenes, which are poignant in their examination of faith and belief.
This is a grueling film that asks you to be patient and listen carefully. It's also extremely dark and disturbing in some moments where families are burned alive and tortured. "Silence" is not an easy film to sit through but the mesmerizing screenplay by Jay Cocks and Martin Scorsese always keeps you glued to the screen. And not to mention that the cinematography (by Rodrigo Prieto) is breathtaking in almost every sense of the word.
Martin Scorsese showcases to perfection of how he can make a film a piece of art. In his highly eminent career, Scorsese has never made a film quite like "Silence" as I don't know what specific audience a movie like this will pander too. But it's a modern masterpiece that a simple film review can't really extensively cover. If you're patient and have an interest in questioning your own faith, it's well worth it.
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