Dark and brooding, Scorsese’s meditation on faith in the face of unbearable challenges is a beautiful film that masterfully considers collisions of culture and religion without ever slipping to judgement. When word is delivered to Portugal that the religious mentor (expertly played by Liam Neeson) of two young priests (Andrew Garfield & Adam Driver) has apostated (forsaken God) in colonial Japan, the young men set out to discover the truth. As they confront the horrors inflicted upon Christians by the Japanese, their faith is shaken as they still attempt to minister to those in hiding. The Japan of this film is a dark and barren place where villagers barely survive and the promise of eternal life in heaven carries them through their miseries. Although the viewer can comprehend the questioning of their faith by the young Jesuits, neither Driver nor Garfield ever seem fully human enough for us to empathize. The film strains under the weight of its own grandeur and, at 161 minutes, becomes repetitive. Even a major plot turn gets lost in sweeping cinematography. Still, the most important aspect of the film is its even-handedness in conveying its subject matter and not demonizing any character. The Japanese may be right to view Christianity as a plague to eradicate from Japan or the Jesuits may be right in their faith, but the truth is probably somewhere in between and God’s silence on it is perfectly conveyed.
(Laemmle Playhouse Pasadena)