Silence (2016)

DVD COVER/SLIDE

Length of film:  161 Minutes

Rated: R

Genre: Drama, History

Director: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano, Ciaran Hinds, Issei Ogata

IMDB Rank: 7.2/10

Part 1 Time: 79 Minutes

Part 2 Time:  82 Minutes

Where does the first part end? A captured, Padri Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) is taken to a village by a group of Japanese Samurai. He meets Old Samurai Inoue (Issei Ogata) who asks Rodrigues to apostatize in front of Japanese Christians.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “The price for your glory, is their suffering” Old Samurai Inoue finishes his conversation with Padre Rodrigues.

First line of dialogue on the second part: “Padre, praise be to God!” The Interpreter (Tadanobu Asano), wakes a sleeping Padre Rodrigues in his small wooden hut.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Somewhat, Padri Rodrigues has now been captured by the Japanese Samurai. The Japanese are determined to eradicate all Christians from the nation. But first they must make Padri Rodrigues apostatize. Will Padri Rodrigues deny his faith to save Japanese Christians or will he say faithful to his God?

Which part is better? Part one shows Padri Rodrigues and Garupe (Adam Driver) arrive in a Japanese village in an attempt find the whereabouts of Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson). They slowly begin to restore Christianity in various small villages around Nagasaki. Part two, has both Padri Rodrigues and Garupe captured by Japanese Samurai who are determined to make them apostatize in front of Christian believers. Part two is better due to its ability to show how religious conviction can be interpreted differently through cultures and also the struggle some will put themselves and others through to prove their loyalty to their faith.

Academy Awards: Best Cinematography (Nominated)