Silence (2016)

In the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers:

Jay Cocks (screenplay by), Martin Scorsese (screenplay by)

Stars:

Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 55 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrew Garfield	...	Rodrigues
Adam Driver	...	Garupe
Liam Neeson	...	Ferreira
Tadanobu Asano	...	Interpreter
Ciarán Hinds	...	Father Valignano
Issei Ogata	...	Old Samurai / Inoue (as Issey Ogata)
Shin'ya Tsukamoto	...	Mokichi
Yoshi Oida	...	Ichizo
Yôsuke Kubozuka	...	Kichijiro (as Yosuke Kubozuka)
Kaoru Endô	...	Unzen Samurai (Uneme)
Diego Calderón	...	Prisoner Augustinian Friar #2 (as Diego Calderon)
Rafael Kading	...	Prisoner Augustinian Friar #1
Matthew Blake	...	Prisoner Franciscan Friar
Benoit Masse	...	Prisoner Augustinian Friar #3
Tetsuya Igawa	...	Prisoner Japanese Jesuit

Storyline

Intent on investigating the truth behind Father Cristovão Ferreira's abrupt end of correspondence, the devout Portuguese Catholic priests, Sebastião Rodrigues and Francisco Garupe, set off to Japan, in 1633. In great disbelief, as the rumours of Ferreira's apostasy still echo in their minds, the zealous Jesuit missionaries try to locate their mentor, amid the bloodshed of the violent anti-Christian purges. Under those circumstances, the two men and the Japanese guide, Kichijiro, arrive in Japan, only to witness firsthand the unbearable burden of those who have a different belief in a land founded on tradition. Now--as the powerful Grand Inquisitor, Inoue, performs hideous tortures on the brave Japanese Christians--Father Rodrigues will soon have to put his faith to the ultimate test: renounce it in exchange for the prisoners' lives. There, in the ends of the world, a subtle change has begun; however, why is God's silence so deafening?

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Plot Keywords:

portuguese | religious persecution | japan | torture | apostasy | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes silence is the deadliest sound.

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some disturbing violent content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Liam Neeson lost 20 pounds for his role.

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Goofs

In the scene where Rodrigues and his Translator meet Garupe on the beach, Just after Garupe jumps into the ocean and starts to swim, The Translator is saying dialogue but his lips are not moving for most of the spoken line, and what is spoken does not match his lip movements.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Ferreira: [narrating] 1633. Pax Christi. Praised be God. Although for us there is little peace in this land now. I never knew Japan when it was a country of light, but I have never known it to be as dark as it is now. All our progress has ended in new persecution, new repression, new suffering. They use ladles filled with holes so the drops would come out slowly, and the pain would be prolonged. Each small splash of the water was like a burning coal. The Governor of Nagasaki took four friars,...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

For the Japanese Christians and their pastors Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

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Connections

Featured in The Oscars (2017)

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Soundtracks

Slow Taikos
Written and performed by Antoine Binant and Yutaka Nakamura
Courtesy of Blue Pie Records USA and Sound For Production

User Reviews

Piercing Silence

The experience is extraordinary from different reasons. Martin Scorsese with a legendary career behind him breaks new ground with the fierce and renewed passion. A film made for the love of film not for box office expectations. A work of love from beginning to end. Then, Andrew Garfield. What a year for this young spectacular actor. The kindness in his eyes made the journey so personal for me. I must say that I've been very lucky because I've been lead by my mentor (another Martin by the way)into the world of Scorsese. I found Scorsese's films brilliant yes, but too dark, too violent and hopeless and my mentor said, "No, don't stay in the periphery, go in. You'll see Martin Scorsese's films are religious experiences" Well I got in, I saw, I felt, I understood and as a consequence I wept for most of Silence. Thank you Marty and Martin from the bottom of my heart.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK Taiwan Japan Mexico Italy

Language:

English Japanese Latin

Release Date:

13 January 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Silence

Filming Locations:

Taiwan

Box Office

Budget:

$46,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$130,880, 25 December 2016

Gross USA:

$7,100,177

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$23,834,809

Company Credits

Production Co:

SharpSword Films, AI-Film, CatchPlay

Technical Specs

Runtime:

161 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1