Movie Analysis Essay on Silence Directed by Martin Scorsese

Introduction

"Silence movie," directed by Martin Scorsese in 2016, is a monumental work that exposes the viewers through various experiences based on the traits exhibited by some of the main characters such as Kichijiro, Father Rodriguez Sebastiao, Father Francisco Garrpe, and Father Cristovao Ferreira. The two main characters who are Rodrigues and Garupe in the movie are displayed explicitly as they travel to Japanese land with the intention of finding their mentor (Father Cristovao Ferreira) who went missing (Marsden & Magee, 2020). Therefore it is a theologically based movie with more drawings from Christianity and reference to the Bible and frequent reference to the supernatural being (God). This research article focuses on one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that is forgiveness, which is highly depicted by one of the main characters (Kichijiro) in the movie repeatedly asked for from Father Rodriguez.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

As the two priests' journey commenced in the look of the mentor priest Father Cristovao Ferreira, they stumbled on a shabby man on their way who directed them based on their inquiries into a priest-less tiny village where he lives (Adam, 2016). The shabby man's name is Kichijiro, who was living in Christian society in a village called Tomogi. The aspect of forgiveness, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit got depicted as the shabby man started confessing to one of the priests (Father Rodrigues) he had met. Kichijiro was an unfaithful man, and his entire family had been lynched alive by the community members on religious grounds initially (Marsden & Magee, 2020). They were accused of failing to observe the image of the Christ as it was the sole religious option for the village resident and refusing to trample on the image of the Christ hence prompting other Christian believers in the community to burn them into pyres. Kichijiro was, however, spared by the village Christian believers because he trampled upon the image due to the act of cowardice.

After asking for forgiveness from Father Rodrigues, Kichijiro got absolved and started portraying strong and reinforced standards of courageous Christianity as he earlier boldly sought forgiveness form the men of God. Later on, he backslides in faith and repeatedly asked for forgiveness from Father Rodrigues from one time to another. Kichijiro spat on the crucifix as he trampled on the image of the Christ and made one of the major mistakes of his life as he betrayed Father Rodrigues to the Japanese officials who were inquiring about the strangers in the region. "At one point, he asks: "Will [God] forgives even me?" (Marsden & Magee, 2020). After high frequencies, he could get himself in the wrong, but he kept confessing and asking for forgiveness from Father Rodrigues, who at each time forgave him his since and mistakes because he believed in the fruits of Holy Spirit and the forgiveness from God (Marsden & Magee, 2020). Kichijiro got absolved each time he floated and breached the prevailing peace and friendly co-existence with the Father and other members of the contemporary society in Tomogi village.

After Father Rodrigues was imprisoned by the Japanese inquisitor following Kichijiro's betrayal, he could imagine if the Father in prison cells would think if God were angry or pitiful to his betrayer, who was Judas Iscariot (Marsden & Magee, 2020). He saw himself as the Judas Iscariot due to his acts of betraying Father Rodrigues to the officials. He could, at some point in the movie, wonder if God would really want a Wretch like him due to multiple mistakes he had committed. Based on this perception, Christians lessons depicted from Kichijiro are plenty of their relationship with God. "How many times would Jesus be able to put up with Kichijiro's denial and betrayal?" After all, according to Matthew, Jesus did say: Whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven" (Lewis, 2001). Kichirijo, after the betrayal again, could be seen in the video seeking forgiveness and regretting his actions of betrayal that led Father Rodrigues in deep pain and imprisonment from the Japanese officials who were was there to arrest the non-local persons in Japan.

The two priests in the Tomogi village forgave the government inquisitor from Nagasaki for their torture as their faith made them be imprisoned due to their strong stand on the Christian virtues hence making them vulnerable to torture and potential deaths as advised by the community village elders. Lewis (2001) opined that love and forgiveness work in pairs as indicated by the elders by advising Father Rodriguez Sebastiao, and Father Francisco Garrpe to denounce their Christianity for the sake of their lives after learning that the government inquisitor would visit them. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Lewis 2001) shows that love and forgiveness, which are both the fruits of the Holy Spirit played a center stage in the movie "Silence."

Conclusion

In conclusion, the movie "Silence" depicts a myriad of Christian virtues that are crucial in our day to day in contemporary society. The fruits of the Holy Spirit, such as the fruit of forgiveness and love, take center stage in the movie as displayed by Father Rodriguez Sebastiao, who was wrong many times by Kichijiro, including the worst deed of betraying him to be imprisoned. Despite all his actions, he got forgiven by the Father. Love sprout when the Tomogi elders tried to hid the two priests from the government inquisitor from Nagasaki, but Kichhijiro betrayed them instead.

References

Adam, D. (2016, November 23). Silence [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0KUWzfugg4Lewis, C. S. (2001). Mere Christianity. Zondervan.

Marsden, G. M., & Magee, D. (2020). CS Lewis's Mere Christianity (Vol. 24). Princeton University Press.