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| From the Detroit Free Press |
Rolling Stone says it best: No one
with a genuine belief in the possibilities and mysteries of cinema
would think of missing Silence. It's essential film-making from the
church of Scorsese, a modern master who lives and breathes in the
images he puts on screen. The fate of this film will depend on what
it does or doesn't open up in you. The issues it raises aren't meant
to go down easy. Heaven and hell, brute nature and healing grace all
have a place in forging faith as Scorsese sees it.
The film is almost 3 hours and passes
quickly even for the faint of heart like me. I enjoyed the camera
angles, cast, stunt people, actors, plot and of course those who
work so laboriously in the "dark room" putting the whole
thing together. Plus, I love the scenery which I appreciate as a trip planner. Silence novel impressed Scorsese and he was dedicated to making a movie of it, which is brilliant.
This film was considered a low budget
at $28 million and everyone including the producers took a pay cut as
the making of the film was an act of passion -- the signature of the
movie. Blessings to Scorsese who was the first to accept the salary
reduction, work overtime and did everything he could to get this film
off the ground and onto the silver screen
I've had a pulse on Scorsese making
this film for years. Any director who makes a movie about Jesuits
makes a dedicated film because that is the nature of the priests and
brothers. Dedication. I have the utmost respect for Jesuits. Of all
of the religious orders, I never heard the many Jesuits I knew and
know ever say that they "felt" like becoming a priest. Oh
no. It was a very definite: "I was called and I remember the day
exactly." They have a fierce determination that inspires great
admiration. And, they walk their talk. Impressive. And, most of all,
not easy for them but they do it.
Even the main actors "learned"
how to be Jesuits, if I can be so brazen to say that.
Bearded actor-priest Andrew Garfield told the
New York Times that his preparation went on for a year and it ended
with him visiting a seven-day silence retreat at St. Bueno's Jesuit
house in Wales, which he admitted saw him get "totally swept up
in all things Jesuit and very taken with Jesuit spirituality."
Emaciated for the role, Adam Driver
also confessed to the publication that he dropped fifty-one pounds
for his role, and even visited the same retreat as Garfield at the
same time. It wasn't easy for him at all especially combined with
dysentery that he suffered while filming.
The films briefly mentions St. Francis
Xavier, one of the leaders of the newly founded Society of Jesus, who
arrived in 1549, and within two years he won a thousand converts.
Japan is “the delight of my heart,” he declared, “the country
in the Orient most suited to Christianity.” Other missionaries
tried to follow in his footsteps eager to do the same.
The other thing that really impressed
me about the movie, were the long list of credits -- the huge
numbers of people who worked on this film, mainly Asian. And, the
punctuating names of Jesuit priests who were right there with them
consulting constantly.
I was really bummed that the Golden
Globes snubbed the movie, and one of the greatest film directors of
our time. But what do they know as they are so immersed in being
politically correct and into all the hype, violence and nudity that
most films portray to draw in movie-goers.
Oh, handsome Liam Neelson who plays Fr.
Ferreira gave his short role all he had with his rich and stunning
gestures and soothing voice to fit the role. He alludes to what wasn't
mentioned. Of course, the film didn't show that Fr. Ferreira recanted
his "apostate" position to the Japanese and died a martyr.
The final scene shows the beauty and
deep reverence of the spirituality and lack of it in Japan at a time
when the Jews were ousted from Germany and the Christian Muslims were
tossed out of Spain. It's hard to remember what you were taught in
grade school let alone put it into perspective in today's fast-paced
world. But go see Silence with an open mind and heart.
"It is, in short, a novel for
most of us, most of the time, as we wend our way between heaven and
earth with our longing souls and our feet of clay," said Luke
Reinsma, Professor of English at Seattle Pacific University.
