[Film] Silence

9 March 2017

“Silence”---How can we watch this film?

Release Year: 2016

Country: USA, Taiwan, Mexico

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Asano Tadanobu, Ogata Issei, Tsukamoto Shin’ya

Location I watched: Golden Village Suntec

Story:

In the 17^th, two young Catholic missionaries, Father Rodrigues and Father Garupe arrived at Japan to trace a missing Father who was rumored to have renounced his faith after being caught by the government. They found there that local Christians were secretly keeping their faith under the cruel oppression of the feudal government. While many Christians are caught and martyred, Father Rodrigues faces the ultimate test of whether to renounce his faith or not…

Japanese cinema release flyer

First of all, the fans of Tsukamoto Shin’ya, a Japanese film director all over the world had better watch this film. He is the most hard-working actor in this film.

“Silence” has two mysteries. One is about the trace of a missing Father and another is about whether the protagonist, Father Rodrigues will renounce his faith or not. These two mysteries draw the audience with the protagonist’s adventure in a foreign country. However, the first mystery is solved on the half way of the film. The more important second mystery leaves the audience in suspense for the last half.

The cinematography is quite beautiful and the story is easily understandable with images. However, if you are not interested in Christianity, religion or Japanese history, you may be open-mouthed. You may not care about the suspense, whether Father Rodrigues will renounce his faith or not.

I assume that generally, audience in Japan can enjoy watching this film. Because the original novel, “Silence” is one of the most famous works written by a great writer, Endo Shusaku. Besides, everybody learns about oppression against Christianity and a national isolation policy in the Edo era during Japanese history class in school. Even if we have never read the original book, the story is familiar to us. This film makes us fell less exotic than foreign audience, at the same time, feel a little bit romantic because of admiration for Western culture and Christianity. The meaning of “romantic” does not mean “fantasy”. The stern attitude for a question on God and men would be unfamiliar to us. That “romanticism” and familiarity of the story can keep audience’s interest, I think. Of course, some audience in Japan would be disappointed with religious Martin Scorsese.

When you get bored of this film, you can think like this: This film does not tell only about Christianity. This is a story about intolerance that is still happening in the world. More importantly, “Silence” tells about defeated people. If somebody stuck to his/her faith or belief against oppression or persecution, it would be praised in later ages and become a moving drama. On the other hand, how about somebody renounced that? What “Silence” has described are wavering people under an ultimate bad situation, too weak people for the sternness of what they believe. But can we accuse them? Eventually we all are weak. Nevertheless, when they have to renounce their belief, they are still suffering and groaning.

As the result of renunciation, Father Rodrigues survives and is allowed to live in Japan by the government. The life of a defeated person is going. On the journey, he finds himself who has not abandon his faith or “re-found”. Not just about religion, whatever the belief is, when we try to throw it, sometimes we can never. The last scene reminds me of “Citizen Kane”. Anyway, even if the last scene were not clear like that, “Silence” would be an enough powerful film. I feel that perhaps it should have been a little bit more vague to give the audience more space. But the crucifix appeared in the last scene is probably the one that one of local Christian, Mokichi acted by Tsukamoto Shin’ya gave Father Rodrigues… The fans of Tsukamoto Shin’ya should watch this film. (28 August 2017)

Another flyer, Andrew Garfield & Tsukamoto Shin'ya