Long considered a passion project for Martin Scorsese, Silence has been in and out of development since 1990, with the director retaining rights and interest in the 1966 novel of the same name despite putting out a dozen movies in the intervening years. But after being recommissioned in 2007 and going through several casting changes (Daniel Day-Lewis, Benicio del Toro, and Gael García Bernal were originally in talks to star years ago; Ken Watanabe left the project early last year right before filming began) the project is now finally completed. Having finished up just in time for Oscar consideration with a Dec. 23 release date and gathered a strong cast including Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver, Scorsese at last has the chance to reveal what he’s had in store.
Acclaimed Japanese author Shusaku Endo’s original novel wrestles with themes of faith and suffering while mixing first- and third-person narration and is considered one of the finest works of 20th-century fiction; it was previously adapted for the screen in 1971 by Masahiro Shinoda. Set in the 17th century, the plot centers on two young Portuguese Jesuit priests (Garfield, Driver) who perilously make their way to Japan in order to locate their religious mentor (Liam Neeson) and spread the word of Christianity. It’s there that they discover a local Christian community suffering from religious persecution.
While only our first look, this first trailer indicates the epic scope with which Scorsese has treated the story, as well as his faithfulness to the original narrative. Perhaps that 25-plus year wait will pay off yet.
