'​Silence' review: A Martin Scorsese experience to be had

Film Review: Silence
Dir:  Martin Scorsese
Cast:  Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano
Rating: ***1/2

What’s it about:

Two Jesuit priests in Macau, Garupe (Driver) and Rodriguez (Garfield) refuse to believe that their mentor Ferreira (Neeson) has committed apostasy (g iven up their faith), after suffering at the hands of the Japanese, while spreading Christianity in that country. They go to Japan to know for sure.

Soon, forced underground, they realise that the religion has taken root in the largely Buddhist nation. But that most of the followers are either persecuted, killed or tortured. Worse so, if a priest is caught.

Because when this happens, a priest is forced to watch his faithful followers suffer or die. The idea is to get them to give up their faith, to step on a graven image of Jesus, as a symbol of apostasy.

By and by, Garupe and Rodriguez get separated and as each is made to bear witness to the amount of violence meted out to Japanese Christians in that country, you begin to wonder. What price is too high to pay for the freedom to follow, practise and preach one’s own religion.

What’s hot:

It’s a Scorsese film. It begins on a wide canvas, in a period of turmoil and tribulation for men of faith and otherwise. Each image, each shot, dreary or otherwise, makes an impact. Garfield gives a strong-willed performance he will be undoubtedly proud of. Driver is barely there, but his struggles are dealt with early on in the film. Neeson is the biggest star here, and when he appears late into the second half after a cursory glance in the first, it’s well worth waiting for. Certain scenes in particular, stay with you, especially the ones of torture. Each one with Kichijiro (Asano) as the drunk serial faith-renouncer is one in which you struggle between sympathising or despising him.

What’s not:

Faith isn’t simplistic and expecting one to be set free after the act of fumi-e (stepping on an image of Christ, here) is a naive assumption. Each reaction is preceded by a well-thought out action and save for a few, each serves only to prolong the inevitable.

What to do:

While it’s a fine, fine film by Scorsese, one that could possibly get him an Oscar, it isn’t something most people would gravitate towards. A lot of what plays out seems heavy-handed in parts, but it’s nevertheless an experience to be had. Yes, despite the really long running time.