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Silence (2016)
The history of humanity is also the story of violence between conflicting belief systems and the worst of it has always existed along religious lines. Together with love, hate, and fear, these are the biggest themes that film can portray and they form the grand stage on which Martin Scorsese’s Silence (2016) plays out an historical drama of epic proportions. It is a political treatise on the nature of faith viewed through a post-colonial lens that explores how one belief system sought to impose itself upon another.
As complex as its themes are, the film’s plotline is simple. Set in the 17th century, two Jesuit priests journey from Portugal to Japan in search of their monastery leader who has reportedly renounced his faith. It was a time when every vestige of Christianity was brutally suppressed by Japanese rulers through extensive public renunciations, torture, and executions. The Jesuits find villages of underground Christians who welcome the priests as messiahs. They administer sacred rites and preach to the faithful who believe their path to the kingdom of heaven is restored. The authorities hear of the Christian resurgence but even torture and killings will not force the villagers to betray the priests. They are finally captured and their choice is to renounce their faith or be forced to watch more killings.
Up to this point in the story it is a sweeping narrative of bold adventurism, religious persecution, and richly detailed contrasts between Christian and Oriental cultures. Two hours into the story, the film turns into a psychological thriller when the surviving Jesuit comes face-to-face with the renounced mentor he once revered. The dialogue of this meeting is some of the most existentially challenging commentary upon the nature of faith you will find on film. In portraying the immense chasm between apostate and disciple, the film explores the arrogance of religious colonialism; the interplay of personal ego, faith and self-sacrifice; and the incompatibility of two culturally divergent belief systems. The final chapter of the film provides the narrative space in which the Jesuit must confront his god and himself.
By its nature, this is a polarising film. It is criss-crossed with political and religious dogma and the history of colonial conquest. It is rich in Christian metaphor, with several scenes evoking the Passions of Christ, the Crucifixion, and the nature of sin and salvation. Some audiences will view it through the lens of their own religious beliefs, but most will recognise this as a monumental Scorsese work. At two hours and forty minutes it requires investment and some will find the pace uneven. Even here, metaphors are at work as the compression and de-compression of time mimics the tides of religious history. As similar stories could be told in different lands, some might find the portrait of cruelty in Japanese history one-sided. But there is no doubting that this is masterful storytelling with a fine cast and stunning cinematography that offers provocative insights into the nature of faith.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson
Gosh! It sounds fascinating.
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I have wanted to see this for weeks. Your review makes me want to see it even more!
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I have to say I didn’t enjoy this film but I’m in a film discussion group and it certainly did split the vote. The cinematography was the only positive we all agreed on – beautiful to look at. I couldn’t get past the spoken language, but I suppose any historical film must have this problem since language is constantly evolving.
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Please let me share some thoughts with you and your group about this (and all) films. I did not ‘enjoy’ it either. It is a high-tension act involving huge social forces with high levels of gruesome brutality between conflicting belief systems. The point is this is a thinking film, not entertainment, and it calls for different channels of engagement to be activated. Stories within films are vehicles for communicating big messages about the world we live in; they are often not the point of the film. I admit that my patience was being stretched until late in the film I reached the ten minutes of dialogue between the renounced former Jesuit and the young priest. When de-constructed, it is philosophic poetry about religion, faith, and how our ego relates to both. Apart from that, and at another level, it is a great adventure story with filming that gave the Academy Awards a nudge. Lovely chatting to you here; hope to see more of you.
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Ah yes I see your point. Maybe I approached it with the wrong mindset then? It’s a tough one to rewatch when it’s so long!!
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No need to rewatch it. With a complex film like this you need to take a step back and think of it in the bigger context of the history of ideas. The brutality in this film is no different to what some commited believers of today are prepared to carry out in the name of their god. So this is not just a 17th century story, but an ongoing saga of conflict between religious and political systems. Think Trump crushing Muslims and the story continues.
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Brilliant review of an exceptionally well made film from Martin Scorcese. You can tell he has put his heart and soul bringing a complex story to the screen. It’s a travesty that it did not get a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.
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I agree it was award-worthy, but I’m guessing that the complexity and controversy of its themes would have been a turn-off for many Academy voters.
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This is a wonderful review that highlights one of the most prevalent themes in human history and harmonises with the precise identification of the multiple ways in which the issue is explored throughout the film.
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Thank you for such a poetic comment.
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Deserved way more attention than it got. Nice review.
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Amen to that!
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Damn man, you can really dissect a film well. I wish I had such insight. As I’ve now come to expect, this really is excellent reading mate. You say so much using so little words. That is a damned good skill mate, and something that I am trying to work on myself all the time, often failing heh.
Unfortunately here in SA, this flick somehow only got a 2 week screening. I haven’t been able to walk for the last two weeks so… yeah, that kinda sucks. I guess the subject matter isn’t made for multiplexes, but still… its Scorsese damnit!! It drives me insane that his last film was playing everywhere, because it had Leo in it. This one? Only at the Palace, which is a phrase I must have used hundreds of times over the last couple of years.
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Thanks Jordan; I really enjoy writing, especially keeping my thoughts within 500 words. After I write the review, I put it aside. I never edit the same day; when I come back, I’m a reader not a writer and often find more insight. The more I write, the easier it gets. Great talking to you Jordan.
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Hey, thanks a ton for sharing how you go about your reviews mate. Seriously, that is a super helpful tip for me. Too often I’ve rushed to post stuff, or on the opposite side, I edit and edit and edit for a week!
So when you begin to review, you just ignore the delete button (not -entirely-) then and just trust your thoughts? That’s how I’m thinking I’m gonna start approaching this. Write like that, then sleep on it.
Great talking to you mate, always cool to chat with fellow cinephiles, especially fellow Aussies! 🙂
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This film did not come into my radar at all actually. I am not religious and have not watched any films on faith or religion (unless you include the Life of Brian in that category) but it seems so powerful that 2h40min doesn’t sound so bad…
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Silence shares some of the themes of The Innocents in the way it stands back in awe at the power of faith, but its more about religous colonialism and brutality. While Scorsese reportedly made the film as a self-reflection on his own faith, it reads as a historical and political essay rather than about religion.
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I saw this one a few months ago, and as someone not having any personal ties to religion, I gotta say, it’s a beautiful film. The cinematography is to die for! Anyways, just wanted to let you know I’ve just nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award! https://spacecortezwrites.com/2017/03/08/mystery-blogger-award/
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It is indeed beautifully filmed; and thank you for the nomination spacecortez.
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No problem at all, keep it up, and good luck!
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