A Painful Silence

Rating: 8/10 (8 January 2017)

Set amongst the Christian persecutions of 17th century Japan "Silence" is Scorsese's most cerebral film and ,one senses ,his very personal exploration of humankind's apparent need to believe in some kind of ultimate being and the mental and physical anguish that can often attend that belief.
The cruelly sadistic scenes of torture/martyrdom are juxtaposed with the priest's own doubts about the existence and the nature of God and whether he and this God are in someway complicit in the suffering of these poor people .In many cases he has to suffer vicariously by being forced to watch the torments of others.
Father Rodrigues' dark night of the soul often references/imitates Christ's own passion, with the crucifixion of the three hostages,his entry into town on a donkey ,the mirror image in the river, his betrayal by his guide Kichjiro on at least three occasions,and the Caiaphus style examination by the Inquisitor. This scene for me was reminiscent of The Bridge on the River Kwai's debate between Colonels Nicholson and Saito on their differing codes of honour ,illustrative of the parallel theme of an additional cultural /political clash, suggestive of western arrogance and colonialist aspirations:this continues to resonate powerfully in today's conflicted world. The Inquisitor's performance for me was impressive-the rest of the acting good but not great.
The dialogue is of varied quality-the priest's verbal jousts with the Inquisitor excellent and revealing- but other episodes less so.
There is also a fair bit of repetition with the priest's self examinations and the many apostatical ceremonies.
The cinematography is stunning, with the various miasmas,(mists from the mountains/ haar from the sea/vapours from the hot springs), mimicking the fog of doubt enfolding father Rodrigues.
At 2 hrs 40 it is also a bit too long, but ultimately it is a moving experience and an intense and complex work that should keep you thinking long after the credits roll .
I will go see it again.