Silence, based on the novel by Shusaku Endo, directed and written by Martin Scorsese

Silence, based on the novel by Shusaku Endo, directed and written by Martin Scorsese

I am not sure why this film has not enjoyed more recognition and acclaim:

-          Was it because it is 2 hours and 41 minutes long?

-          Maybe it is the suffering that is portrayed within?

-          On the other hand, the metascore for this work is 79

-          Which means critics have been very favorable

-          But not members of the Academy

This motion picture has so many strong points:

-          It is a phenomenal story about calling

-          Resilience is also in evidence throughout the plot

-          Extraordinary human signature strengths are presented

-          We have role models and vicious men

In the seventeenth century, two Portuguese priests arrive in Japan.

There had been thousands of Christians in this land.

But the swamp is mainly responsible for the unsuccess of Christianity in these islands.

At least that is one version that is presented by the villains of the narrative.

Rodrigues and Garupe, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver respectively, are the only hope for some believers.

But they are also an extreme and present danger.

The authorities are torturing and killing Christians.

There is a prize of 100 silver coins for anyone who would give information that would lead to the capture of a Christian.

The prize is raised to 300 for Rodrigues.

The way the Japanese that try to destroy Christianity and Christians in their land see this is simple in a way:

-          Foreigners should keep to their own lands

-          In their own territories they should preach

-          Not in Japan

The Inquisitor and his men are of the opinion that the tree of Christianity will not grow in the earth of their islands.

But they use incredible torture to make sure that the priests and the believers abandon their faith and become apostates.

In the case of Garupe, they can see that he would rather die in the place of members of his flock and try blackmail:

-          Take me instead! Take me! He shouts

The evil torturers threaten Rodrigues that if he does not give up his religion, the other prisoners will be tortured.

And they are all asked to sin, to step on the image of Jesus as a sign that they are changing their ways and denying Christ.

Garupe and Rodrigues have been trying to find Father Ferreira, who is rumored to have abandoned his faith:

-          I do because you are just like me. You see Jesus in Gethsemane and believe your trial is the same as His. Those five in the pit are suffering too, just like Jesus, but they don't have your pride. They would never compare themselves to Jesus. Do you have the right to make them suffer? I heard the cries of suffering in this same cell. And I acted.

Indeed, faced with the option of being the cause of the torture and death of others and being abused himself, Ferreira has given up his faith.

Or at least he made the gestures required.

Liam Neeson portrays this tormented figure.

He is now married and has children.

The former father has written works that deny Christianity.

With Rodrigues, he is charged at one point with checking items from European ships to see if they contain forbidden materials.

-          Christian figures that is

-          And crosses

Excellent motion picture.