Martin Scorsese's Silence - Movie Analysis Essay

Introduction

Martin Scorsese's movie Silence is an adaptation of Shusaku Endo 1966 novel. Silence narrates of real Christianity, Christianity that entails suffering and torture, unlike Fake Christianity, which is depicted in several Christian based movies. It describes of Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century Japan who escort the Japanese Catholic population during their oppression. The film provokes deeper reflection on virtues such as faith, hope and charity when faced with events of oppression and needs to submit.

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Act of Faith

In the Movie "Silence," the two priests Rodriguez and Garupe set a journey to look for Ferreira, a priest who had recently denounced his faith in Japan after suffering torture. The news of his accusation came as a big shock to the priest, and they decided to travel to Japan to get answers from him. They sought the help of kichijiro, a fisherman who drank alcohol frequently and had left Japan for China because his whole relations had been executed back in Japan on the grounds of their beliefs. The converts in Japan were suffering torture and were feeble before the Japanese Administration, who, in this case, is their persecutors. Faith, as a virtue, forced the natives of Japan to recant their faith in God and the Church forcefully. Despite the willingness to fight for the excellent course, physical and mental torture pushed them to the limits, and most converts denounced Christianity.

Act of Hope

The fisherman decided to steer them through the passage to Japan. On arrival, they are met by the hopelessness of the priests and the converts who were regularly persecuted by the Japanese authorities. Those who shared in the faith of Christ lived in fear because Christianity in Japan had been formally forbidden, and the authorities continually hunting for the secret believers. Most Christians employ the virtue of hope in this era. The environment was hopeless, and they lived in fear, but their faith and trust in God renewed their hope. They lived hoping that their rescuer (God) would respond and help them during the trying moments.

Soldiers, under the instructions of Inoue, arrested Rodriguez and took him to the cells. The men paid 300 pieces of silver to Kichinjiro; this reminds the audience of Judas Iscariot in the Bible. This is reflected in the Bible, where Peter rejected Jesus three times, and Judas handed Jesus over for money. (Matthew 26:33-35). Rodriguez shared in the pain of Jesus through this betrayal, and this was a sign to him that he was walking on the same path as Jesus.

Act of Charity

The instance where Charity is depicted in the film is after the capture of Rodrigue, who was pushed to confront the threat of oppression, with the sole condition of his freedom being recantation. Nonetheless, his case is not alike of previous Christian martyrs. Instead of being confronted with his misery, Rodrigues is pushed to the limit to give into consideration of cries and screams of peasants being oppressed. It is upon listening to their cries that the Japanese officer tells Rodrigues if he would not give in to his request, the peasants will be tortured to their death. In this plot, Rodrigues is forced to conduct an act that depicts denouncing Christ by stepping on Christianity religious icon called Fumi-e his fellow father Ferreira, soothe him to act by the wish of the authorities to serve the soul of local peasants that were being tortured. Father Ferreira is encouraging his fellow priest to practice one of the virtues of Christian faith; charity. In other words, father Ferreira equates this sacrifice to the most painful act of love ever conducted. This kind of charity is also similar to the one depicted in the book of John chapter 3 verse 16, where John says due to unconditional love God had on his people, he chooses to give his Son as a sacrifice to die on the cross for the sake of serving humanity. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (N. K. J, 2009).

Under this intense pressure, Rodrigues claims to have a religious experience and where he had to voice of the lord sating" Trample! It was to be trampled on by men that I was born into the world, it was to share men's pain that I carried my cross'' (Endo, 1980). Upon the encounter, Rodrigues stepped on the religious icon and his final comment regarding the matter was "Lord, I fought against your Silence. It was in the Silence that I heard your voice."(Endo, 1980) This suggests he finally submitted to the will of God to perform the act of charity.

Conclusion

One of the main questions raised by Silence regards the moral ambiguity of mission work. In the entire movie, the key characters are forced into question that made them question whether Christianity can truthfully spread across cultural boundaries, Hence, turning the film to a middle ground of testing the faith of the two priests who were filled with the hope of spreading Christianity to Japan. Finally, when the situation looked impossible, they lose hope, and Rodrigues sublime to the will speak of God to perform the act of charity to rescue the soul of peasants who were being tortured.

References

Endo, S. (1980). Silence. Parkwest Publications. Retrieved from: http://www.haitum.com/movie/201-10673.html&play=0-0

Version, N. K. J. (2009). Holy Bible: New King James Version. Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson.