Review of Silence (2017) by Felipe M — 29 Mar 2017

The latest Martin Scorsese historical drama film following the Jesuit priests traveling to Japan to find one of their own that went missing. Scorsese's film is well focused on story telling this historical story, also delivering some great performances from Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver. Silence may be short on being one of Martin Scorsese's better films like The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc.

In the 17th Century, Father Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Father Garupe (Adam Driver) are sent on a mission to look for a missing priest Ferrera (Liam Neeson). When he was last heard in Japan, where they are trying to renounce the Christianity faith and torture to those who would not give up their faith.

Martin Scorsese is great at being a storyteller in his movie scripts and direction. I like the concept going over the "hidden Christians" era when the conflict in Japan of the shogunate is trying persuade the village people in their country to renounce their Christian faith. With Father Rodrigues and Garupe visiting the village citizens and to see that they are still holding on to their Christian faith. Even as they have mass in hiding at night. When Rodrigues is feeling like he is being tested as he witnesses innocent people being tortured unless they renounce their beliefs. It is a powerful moving film. Rodrigues holding onto what he believes in, no matter the challenges that he is facing. The cinematography has its raw tone, and the music score kept to the minimum and with the outdoor noise of Japan being heard in the background from waves sound, a silent moment with crickets noise, etc. The set design was beautiful. Some unease feeling when seeing how people are being treated for what they believe in.

Andrew Garfield did a great job with his performance and Adam Driver as well.

The film is very slow moving with its storytelling. Does take a while for it to set up its story. Clocking in at a running time of two and half hours. The film can also be boring, seeing Rodrigues being taunted and he rejects the idea of giving up his faith which can go on for almost an hour. May not be one of Martin Scorsese's better movies. The acting and direction is the spotlight of this movie. While the rest falls in the slow moving story of a historical drama that hasn't been told before.

Overall, Silence is a fair film, great performances, and strong direction. Its slow pace of two and half hours does feel like a very long time and some boring moments.