Two daring Jesuit priests encounter immense persecution when they travel to Japan in the 17^th century to spread the word of Christianity, while also attempting to locate their missing mentor, Father Ferreira (Tetsuro Tanba) – a man rumoured to have lost his faith within the country. An emotionally charged, impactful flick that will appeal to some viewers, more than others.

Director: Masahiro Shinoda
Writers: Masahiro Shinoda, Shusaku Endo
Starring: David Lampson, Don Kenny, Tetsuro Tanba

Directed by Masahiro Shinoda and based on the 1966 novel of the same name written by Shusaku Endo, Silence marks the first of three film adaptations. This initial release was followed by a 1996 Portuguese interpretation directed by Joao Mario Grilo, before receiving its most widely recognised adaptation in 2016 from Martin Scorsese – Silence (2016). While the later films are not considered remakes in the traditional sense of the word, they do share several strikingly similar sequences, with each filmmaker attempting to preserve the historical and theological weight of original novel.

One aspect of the film worth highlighting is the number of difficult-to-watch scenes injected by the filmmaker throughout the one-hundred and twenty-nine minute runtime. Many of these moments carry strong emotional weight that lingers long after they have ended. Accompanying much of the flick is also a haunting, gothic-like soundtrack that further enhances the picture’s dark atmosphere and overwhelming sense of bleakness.

The entire picture was filmed on location in Japan, with the country providing an authentic backdrop from the first minute, until the last. A range of settings were used, from inland rural areas to coastal locations, helping to reinforce the film’s sense of place and isolation. Traditional Japanese housing and more built-up urban areas were also incorporated into several key scenes, adding further realism and texture to the flick.

In terms of the cast, David Lampson adopted the role of Sebastiao Rodrigues and commanded a large majority of screentime, with the largely unknown actor only commanding a total of seven acting appearances spanning from 1968 to 1975. Incoming support largely stemmed from the likes of Don Kenny, Tetsuro Tanba, Mako and Shima Iwashita, who portrayed Francisco Garrpe, Father Ferreira, Kichijiro and Kiku, respectively.

All in all, Silence manages to come across as a highly effective drama that handles the sensitive subject of Christian persecution with a great deal of care and respect, especially considering the time of its release. While there are several stark differences between this version and Silence (2016), the film remains equally as thought-provoking in its own right, albeit doesn’t manage to quite reach the same heights as the later release directed by Martin Scorsese.

“I wonder if someday we will be caught like Father Ferreira.”

Sebastiao Rodrigues – Silence