As someone that has often felt Scorsese's films, while very good, were not always the best they could be, I can't quite place into words why I've felt this and I don't have the time to review each and every one. Often, it's been little things that stood out as invariably imperfect. I often have felt that in comparison to other legendary filmmakers, Scorsese's films didn't hold a candle to them.
So, I hereby wish to say that this may be just that film I've been looking to see from Scorsese. It is in my honest opinion the finest film he has ever made.
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this film, considering the other Andrew Garfield movie that featured religion, Hacksaw Ridge, was often too much for me. The religiosity of that film was off putting. I felt that in the case of Silence, I could sit back and understand these characters. The difference being, Hacksaw Ridge felt as if it were preaching, Silence did not.
The cinematography in this film was nothing short of gorgeous and every shot was expertly handled. This reminded me in many ways of The Mission (1986).
End up with a very annoying feeling of confusion. But it pushed me to read more about the underlying real history, which gave me a better perspective and wide-opened my range of possible interpretations.
The second time I watched the film I realised how deep it is and how easily could be missunderstood. Life is not black or white, not everything make sense for human eyes. Thus, confusion and uncertainty plays a main role in the movie as much as in real life. Only God see the "whole picture" ...
Martin Scorsese's Silence may be, like most of his films, over-long, but it never lost my interest. I was afraid this story about the last Jesuits to visit Japan would smack of the "White Messiah" trope, but it's quite the reverse. What these white men bring is destruction on those who would dare follow their teachings. They're not saviors at all, and are in fact humbled at the faith shown by new converts as opposed to their own doubting natures, forged in a world where Christianity is a given. Very complex ideas at work here, creating sustained contrast between private and public faith, and asking pointed questions about the value of missionary work and its role in colonialism. Japan rejects these in favor of its own traditions, and if its officials commit atrocities against the faithful, their point of view seems valid, though the contention that Christianity is dangerous is more or less a self-fulfilling prophecy. I can't decide if the lack of score is a gimmick, or whether the "silence" helps the audience think about these philosophical concerns, but to its credit, I didn't notice until the credits rolled. I was more concerned with the shifting narrative voices - narration as score? - which seemed messy as a storytelling device, rather than, say, emulating the different books of the Bible, or making a point about the known and the unknowable, two interpretations the film could have supported.
I really enjoyed it, though the sudden fluency of the Japanese proselytes did get on my nerves at times. Not exclusive to this film, I'm afraid. I wish Scorsese had made the choice to go with a more persisting language barrier as in the the little-known 'Mission'-like film 'At Play in the Fields of the Lord' (1991).
Martin Scorsese spent all his life having fun shooting movies where men kill each other and abuse women, but now he feels entitled to teach us lessons about religion...
The movie is rather well executed, as always.
But some characters are portrayed in bad taste (the inquisitor, mostly), and all these Portuguese guys speaking English are annoying. The main actor doesn't have the shoulders for this role, either.
Finally, I felt that the style is just too Western, given the Japanese context: too centered around the main character. Sounded misplaced, somehow.
As a Catholic, there were a lot of cringing moments. It seems that Scorsese's message is, live your faith/religion but keep it behind closed doors and away from public life. Which I think today's Western culture is saying as well.
The reveal at the end seems to portray the main protagonist as the 'hero'. However, I would argue the real heroes are the Japanese martyrs that hold on to their faith and die a horrible death. It reminds me of how Christianity grew in the first place; the witness of the martyrs, not the silence of secularized Christians.
As much as I appreciate Scorsese's work, I feel this was a poor tribute to japanese classic films, but what I find most underwhelming is the way Christianism is portrayed as an arrogant and condescending religion towards an entire nation, and I still ended up with the idea that this movie promotes Christianism as a morally superior ideology.
Even knowing Scorsese's history, it's hard to view this as anything other than an anti-religion film. We kill one another over what boils down to the same belief with just slightly different interpretations of a long dead holy man. Even as a mirror to our own modern world full of killing and religious persecution, this film failed to offer anything new nor any solution beyond the wisdom of taking the path of least resistance where those around you don't suffer for your pride.
It is very rare that I feel dissapointed with a film, but Scorsese does so many wrong things with this one that is is rather difficult not to feel somewhat down after seeing it.
Despite the aggressive special effects, the photography is stunning, the acting is pretty good (particularly I liked the interpreter), but the actual content of the film is whitewashed and not accurate at all. Christianity is presented in an enchanted and biased manner as well as and how jesuits acted in Japan is featured in quite a wrong way.
But, more important, the film is not sincere, and that's why I can dislike it and criticize it. It is presumptuous and overall "drama queened".
However, it should be mentioned the last third of the film was quite entertaining, but I will not watch again nor recommend this film to anyone.
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Comments 1 - 13 of 13
Shingwauk
It amazes me what we will do all in the name of a religion and man made beliefs.airi86ja
liked the theme of a film and yes - made me think a lot.Scorsese did a great job [again]
Aniform
As someone that has often felt Scorsese's films, while very good, were not always the best they could be, I can't quite place into words why I've felt this and I don't have the time to review each and every one. Often, it's been little things that stood out as invariably imperfect. I often have felt that in comparison to other legendary filmmakers, Scorsese's films didn't hold a candle to them.So, I hereby wish to say that this may be just that film I've been looking to see from Scorsese. It is in my honest opinion the finest film he has ever made.
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this film, considering the other Andrew Garfield movie that featured religion, Hacksaw Ridge, was often too much for me. The religiosity of that film was off putting. I felt that in the case of Silence, I could sit back and understand these characters. The difference being, Hacksaw Ridge felt as if it were preaching, Silence did not.
The cinematography in this film was nothing short of gorgeous and every shot was expertly handled. This reminded me in many ways of The Mission (1986).
josue.a.o
End up with a very annoying feeling of confusion. But it pushed me to read more about the underlying real history, which gave me a better perspective and wide-opened my range of possible interpretations.The second time I watched the film I realised how deep it is and how easily could be missunderstood. Life is not black or white, not everything make sense for human eyes. Thus, confusion and uncertainty plays a main role in the movie as much as in real life. Only God see the "whole picture" ...
Siskoid
Martin Scorsese's Silence may be, like most of his films, over-long, but it never lost my interest. I was afraid this story about the last Jesuits to visit Japan would smack of the "White Messiah" trope, but it's quite the reverse. What these white men bring is destruction on those who would dare follow their teachings. They're not saviors at all, and are in fact humbled at the faith shown by new converts as opposed to their own doubting natures, forged in a world where Christianity is a given. Very complex ideas at work here, creating sustained contrast between private and public faith, and asking pointed questions about the value of missionary work and its role in colonialism. Japan rejects these in favor of its own traditions, and if its officials commit atrocities against the faithful, their point of view seems valid, though the contention that Christianity is dangerous is more or less a self-fulfilling prophecy. I can't decide if the lack of score is a gimmick, or whether the "silence" helps the audience think about these philosophical concerns, but to its credit, I didn't notice until the credits rolled. I was more concerned with the shifting narrative voices - narration as score? - which seemed messy as a storytelling device, rather than, say, emulating the different books of the Bible, or making a point about the known and the unknowable, two interpretations the film could have supported.neocowboy
Moral: when in Rome, do as the Roman’s do.acoltismypassport
I really enjoyed it, though the sudden fluency of the Japanese proselytes did get on my nerves at times. Not exclusive to this film, I'm afraid. I wish Scorsese had made the choice to go with a more persisting language barrier as in the the little-known 'Mission'-like film 'At Play in the Fields of the Lord' (1991).Still, excellent.
soraxtm
This movie was so ridiculous and disgusting it makes think i should go back and reassess my opinion of him as a filmmaker. It's like Spielberg bad.Windill
Martin Scorsese spent all his life having fun shooting movies where men kill each other and abuse women, but now he feels entitled to teach us lessons about religion...The movie is rather well executed, as always.
But some characters are portrayed in bad taste (the inquisitor, mostly), and all these Portuguese guys speaking English are annoying. The main actor doesn't have the shoulders for this role, either.
Finally, I felt that the style is just too Western, given the Japanese context: too centered around the main character. Sounded misplaced, somehow.
wolski888
As a Catholic, there were a lot of cringing moments. It seems that Scorsese's message is, live your faith/religion but keep it behind closed doors and away from public life. Which I think today's Western culture is saying as well.The reveal at the end seems to portray the main protagonist as the 'hero'. However, I would argue the real heroes are the Japanese martyrs that hold on to their faith and die a horrible death. It reminds me of how Christianity grew in the first place; the witness of the martyrs, not the silence of secularized Christians.
RayRf
As much as I appreciate Scorsese's work, I feel this was a poor tribute to japanese classic films, but what I find most underwhelming is the way Christianism is portrayed as an arrogant and condescending religion towards an entire nation, and I still ended up with the idea that this movie promotes Christianism as a morally superior ideology.fonz
Even knowing Scorsese's history, it's hard to view this as anything other than an anti-religion film. We kill one another over what boils down to the same belief with just slightly different interpretations of a long dead holy man. Even as a mirror to our own modern world full of killing and religious persecution, this film failed to offer anything new nor any solution beyond the wisdom of taking the path of least resistance where those around you don't suffer for your pride.Supeingo
It is very rare that I feel dissapointed with a film, but Scorsese does so many wrong things with this one that is is rather difficult not to feel somewhat down after seeing it.Despite the aggressive special effects, the photography is stunning, the acting is pretty good (particularly I liked the interpreter), but the actual content of the film is whitewashed and not accurate at all. Christianity is presented in an enchanted and biased manner as well as and how jesuits acted in Japan is featured in quite a wrong way.
But, more important, the film is not sincere, and that's why I can dislike it and criticize it. It is presumptuous and overall "drama queened".
However, it should be mentioned the last third of the film was quite entertaining, but I will not watch again nor recommend this film to anyone.