Silence Film Review

After nearly a 30-year pilgrimage Martin Scorsese’s passion project Silence has hit theatres.

In classic Scorsese fashion, the film displays a long thought provoking and brutal journey which is presented through Jesuit priest Father Rodrigues, portrayed by Andrew Garfield.

Set in 1600’s Japan, the country provides a backdrop of glamorous hills, oceans, and mountain sides which entails a deep trench of internal struggle to those who believe in the Christian faith.

It is said that the film is a representation of Scorsese’s own struggle with his faith. As a young boy growing up with severe asthma in the rough streets of New York City, Scorsese found salvation and comfort within the confines of his local Church.

Instead, the film follows a group of Japanese Christians who are struggling with life living in poverty. These characters are compelled by the faith’s promise of entry into heaven.

Heaven to them was preached as Paraíso (Paradise), which became their solace.

Even when three of these characters are brutally staring death in the face, they mutter “Paraíso” to themselves as the waves of the ocean wash away their natural life and integrate their souls into eternal life.

Scorsese has succeeded in creating a powerful and dynamic film that stays true to its religious roots. He has used commentary to create raw stand still moments.

Including the intense scene where Father Rodrigues is forced to betray his faith by repeatedly stomping on the face of Jesus Christ. In order to set innocent prisoners free. Throughout this action, the following voiceover plays,

“You may trample. You may trample. I more than anyone know of the pain in your foot. You may trample. It was too be trampled on by men that I was born into this world. It was to carry men’s pain that I carried my cross.”

This leads the viewer to interpret that this is the voice of Jesus Christ speaking to the priest.

During the silence in the aftermath of committing his apostasy, Rodrigues hears a bird crow three times, which is representative of biblical account of Peter denying Jesus thrice.

Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples and one of his biggest missionaries after his death.

From these aspects in the film, Scorsese is trying to display that Rodrigues is betraying his God for selfless reasons rather than selfish ones and like Peter he can eventually be forgiven.

The title “Silence” is is symbolic throughout the entire movie, as music is mostly non-existent. The noises the audience hears are of natural scenery including waves, crickets and the rushing of the wind.

This effect is an exquisite touch for a film that portrays the answers from God communicated to these Priests whom constantly hear silence.

Whether you are religious or not, this film is worth watching.

It conveys the everyday struggles of temptation that we all face in society today.