History Film / Silence

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Ferreira claims that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, and therefore actually converting any Japanese is impossible because even if they ''think'' they are Christians, internally they are completely incapable of comprehending the kind of mystical philosophy inherent in Christianity. They're just repeating words they don't really understand. One "proof" of this is that the chief deity of Japanese Shingon Buddhism is called "Dainichi" - literally "Great Sun." Ferreira takes this to mean the Japanese literally worship the Sun. It's a bit odd considering both {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} are perfectly at home with the supernatural and metaphysical. Possibly it's all just an example of Ferreira's ignorance when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions, or he (as a tool of the Shogunate) is saying whatever he feels he has to say to Rodrigues.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Ferreira claims that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, and therefore actually converting any Japanese is impossible because even if they ''think'' they are Christians, internally they are completely incapable of comprehending the kind of mystical philosophy inherent in Christianity. They're just repeating words they don't really understand. One "proof" of this is that the chief deity of Japanese Shingon Buddhism is called "Dainichi" - literally "Great Sun." He takes this to mean the Japanese literally worship the Sun. It's a bit odd considering both {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} are perfectly at home with the supernatural and metaphysical. Possibly it's all just an example of Ferreira's ignorance when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions, or he (as a tool of the Shogunate) is saying whatever he feels he has to say to Rodrigues.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Ferreira claims that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, and therefore actually converting any Japanese is impossible because even if they ''think'' they are Christians, internally they are completely incapable of comprehending the kind of mystical philosophy inherent in Christianity. They're just repeating words they don't really understand. One "proof" of this is that the chief deity of Japanese Shingon Buddhism is called "Dainichi" - literally "Great Sun." He takes this to mean the Japanese literally worship the Sun. It's a bit odd considering both {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} are both perfectly at home with the supernatural and metaphysical. Possibly it's all just an example of Ferreira's ignorance when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions, or he (as a tool of the Shogunate) is saying whatever he feels he has to say to Rodrigues.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Ferreira claims that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, and therefore actually converting any Japanese is impossible because even if they ''think'' they are Christians, internally they are completely incapable of comprehending the kind of mystical philosophy inherent in Christianity. They're just repeating words they don't really understand. One "proof" of this is that the chief deity of Japanese Shingon Buddhism is called "Dainichi" - literally "Great Sun." He takes this to mean the Japanese literally worship the Sun. It's a bit odd considering both {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} are both perfectly at home with the supernatural and metaphysical. Possibly it's all just an example of Ferreira's ignorance when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions, or (as a tool of the Shogunate) he's saying whatever he feels he has to say to Rodrigues.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Ferreira claims that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, and therefore actually converting any Japanese is impossible because even if they ''think'' they are Christians, internally they are completely incapable of understanding the kind of mystical philosophy inherent in Christianity. One "proof" of this is that the chief deity of Japanese Shingon Buddhism is called "Dainichi" - literally "Great Sun." He takes this to mean the Japanese literally worship the Sun. It's a bit odd considering both {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} are both perfectly at home with the supernatural and metaphysical. Possibly it's all just an example of Ferreira's ignorance when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions, or (as a tool of the Shogunate) he's saying whatever he feels he has to say to Rodrigues.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Ferreira claims that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, and therefore actually converting any Japanese is impossible because even if they ''think'' they are Christians, internally they are completely incapable of even conceiving of the kind of mystical philosophy inherent in Christianity. One "proof" of this is that the chief deity of Japanese Shingon Buddhism is called "Dainichi" - literally "Great Sun." He takes this to mean the Japanese literally worship the Sun. It's a bit odd considering both {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} are both perfectly at home with the supernatural and metaphysical. Possibly it's all just an example of Ferreira's ignorance when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions, or (as a tool of the Shogunate) he's saying whatever he feels he has to say to Rodrigues.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Ferreira claims that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, and therefore actually converting any Japanese is impossible because even if they ''think'' they are Christians, internally they are completely incapable of even conceiving of the kind of mystical philosophy inherent in Christianity. One "proof" of this is that the chief deity of Japanese Shingon Buddhism is called "Dainichi" - literally "Great Sun." He takes this to mean the Japanese literally worship the Sun. It's a bit odd considering both {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} are both perfectly at home with the supernatural and metaphysical. Possibly it's all just an example of Ferreira's ignorance when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions, or, as a tool of the Shogunate, he's saying whatever he feels he has to say to Rodrigues.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Ferreira claims that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, and therefore actually converting any Japanese is impossible because even if they ''think'' they are Christians, internally they are completely incapable of even conceiving of the kind of mystical philosophy inherent in Christianity. One "proof" of this is that the chief deity of Japanese Shingon Buddhism is called "Dainichi" - literally "Great Sun." He takes this to mean the Japanese literally worship the Sun. It's a bit odd considering both {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} are both perfectly at home with the supernatural and metaphysical. Possibly it's all just an example of Ferreira's ignorance when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions, or as a tool of the Shogunate he's saying whatever he feels he has to say to Rodrigues.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Ferreira claims that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, and are completely incapable of even conceiving of the kind of mystical philosophy inherent in Christianity. One "proof" of this is that the chief deity of Japanese Shingon Buddhism is called "Dainichi" - literally "Great Sun." He takes this to mean the Japanese literally worship the Sun. It's a bit odd considering both {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} are both perfectly at home with the supernatural and metaphysical. Possibly this is all just a example of Ferreira's ignorance when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: The film has Ferreira claim that the Japanese can't imagine anything beyond nature, thus they mistook "the Son" for the sun. Now, not only does this homonym make no sense in both Portuguese and Japanese where the words for this use entirely different sounds, but {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}} and {{UsefulNotes/Shinto}} both definitely were based on notions of the supernatural. Possibly averted, though, in that this could just be [[DeliberateValuesDissonance a result of Ferreira's ignorance]] when it comes to Japan and Japanese religions.

* BreakTheBeliever: What the Japanese authorities try to do. They want to force priests to apostatize. [[spoiler: They largely succeed. Only Garupe never gives in, and goes to his death trying to save his Christian converts. The other three major Christian characters all eventually apostatize and renounce their faith under torture (more specifically, the Japanese know the priests are zealous and ready for martyrdom, but exploit their compassion by torturing ''others'' until the priests apostatize). However, of the three, none of them actually give up their faith completely, and continue to believe it in secret. This is true of Rodrigues and Ferreira, and even the treacherous Kichijiro, who ''repeatedly'' apostatizes but is still implied to believe and is eventually killed for his faith.]]

In the 17th century, the Jesuit mission in Japan is facing severe setbacks from the Tokugawa Shogunate who is not only persecuting UsefulNotes/{{Japanese Christian}}s but making them apostatize. One of their priests, Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson), a respected member of the clergy, has already apostatized and is currently helping the government persecute Christians. In response to this shocking turn of events, two young Portuguese Jesuit priests, Father Sebastião Rodrigues (Garfield) and Father Francisco Garrupe (Driver) are dispatched to learn what happened to Ferreira and to continue the mission of preaching Christ's message to the persecuted UsefulNotes/{{Japanese Christian}}s.

** Both Fr. Rodrigues and Fr. Garrupe are raised to believe that martyrdom is the highest honor a Christian man of faith can aspire to, but it's a glory that priests and representatives of the faith are intended to undergo on behalf of others. In Japan, however, Rodrigues and Garrupe are forced to confront the fact that their flock is suffering, sacrificing, and becoming martyrs on '''their''' behalf, and Rodrigues cannot bear seeing people suffer on his account.

** Father Garrupe openly dislikes Japan and refuses to encourage any apostatizing for the sake of others. [[spoiler: However, Garrupe nobly begs to be killed instead of the Christian martyrs and tries valiantly to save them. Rodrigues watches Garrupe die in front of his eyes, and the Japanese commend Garrupe as more honorable than Rodrigues.]]

* TheMentor: Fr. Ferreira was this to the Rodrigues and Garrupe, which is why they follow him into Japan since they want to know what happened to make him abjure his faith. [[spoiler:The Japanese authorities use an apostatized Ferreira to force Rodrigues to apostatize]].

* BreakTheBeliever: What the Japanese authorities try to do. They want to force priests to apostatize. [[spoiler: They largely succeed. Only Garupe never gives in, and goes to his death trying to save his Christian converts. The other three major Christian characters all eventually apostatize and renounce their faith under torture (more specifically, the Japanese know the priests are zealous and ready for martyrdom, but exploit their compassion by torturing ''others'' unless the priests apostatize). However, of the three, none of them actually give up their faith completely, and continue to believe it in secret. This is true of Rodrigues and Ferreira, and even the treacherous Kichijiro, who ''repeatedly'' apostatizes but is still implied to believe and is eventually killed for his faith.]]

* BreakTheBeliever: What the Japanese authorities try to do. They want to force priests to apostatize. [[spoiler: They largely succeed. Only Garupe never gives in, and goes to his death trying to save his Christian converts. The other three major Christian characters all eventually apostatize and renounce their faith under torture (more specifically, the Japanese know the priests are zealous and ready for martyrdom, but exploit their compassion by torturing ''others'' in order to get the priests to apostatize). However, of the three, none of them actually give up their faith completely, and continue to believe it in secret. This is true of Rodrigues and Ferreira, and even the treacherous Kichijiro, who ''repeatedly'' apostatizes but is still implied to believe and is eventually killed for his faith.]]

* BreakTheBeliever: What the Japanese authorities try to do. They want to force priests to apostatize. [[spoiler:Averted, however in the end. The four major christians shown end up holding their faith despite the best efforts of the Japanese. No matter how many times Kichijiro apostatize, he still believes and considers Rodrigues his priest and confessor. Garupe maintains his faith and goes to his death trying to save his converts without ever denouncing God. Rodrigues apostatizes in the end only to prevent other Christians from suffering, and he still keeps his belief privately, as does Kichijiro, who repeatedly apostatizes but still believes, and still considers Rodrigues his priest and confessor even after he has apostatized. Ferreira also reveals he is simply keeping a facade of disdaining christianity, as it's less of being broken by the torture and more of seeing the Hidden Christians suffer, and he makes it clear he is aware that Rodrigues is trying to protect the Hidden Christians and not only never said a word about it until his own death, he also helps him in doing so, going as far as to subtly hint that he approved of his act and sympathized with him.]]

* TheBadGuyWins: In the end, [[spoiler:Inquisitor Inoue manages to break Rodrigues and cause him to apostatize in order to save others from a horrible death and force him to live out the rest of his days in Japan, never allowed to leave. It's all but stated that Rodrigues secretly held onto his faith for the rest of his life and the Hidden Christians avoid more persecution, but Inoue ends up getting everything he wants.]] The persecutions' goal is achieved in that Christianity does not become a major religion in Japan, albeit neither is it completely uprooted either, as a small, and in Inoue's view, harmless version will survive, albeit one that doesn't resemble the European idea of Christianity.

* TheBadGuyWins: In the end, [[spoiler:Inquisitor Inoue manages to break Rodrigues and cause him to apostatize in order to save others from a horrible death and forced to live out the rest of his days in Japan, never allowed to leave. It's all but stated that Rodrigues secretly held onto his faith for the rest of his life and the Hidden Christians avoid more persecution, but Inoue ends up getting everything he wants.]] The persecutions' goal is achieved in that Christianity does not become a major religion in Japan, albeit neither is it completely uprooted either, as a small, and in Inoue's view, harmless version will survive, albeit one that doesn't resemble the European idea of Christianity.

* TheBadGuyWins: In the end, [[spoiler:Inquisitor Inoue manages to break Rodrigues and cause him to apostatize in order to save others from a horrible death. It's all but stated that Rodrigues secretly held onto his faith for the rest of his life and the Hidden Christians avoid more persecution, but Inoue ends up getting everything he wants.]] The persecutions' goal is achieved in that Christianity does not become a major religion in Japan, albeit neither is it completely uprooted either, as a small, and in Inoue's view, harmless version will survive, albeit one that doesn't resemble the European idea of Christianity.

* BreakTheBeliever: What the Japanese authorities try to do. They want to force priests to apostatize, and succeeded in doing this to Fr. Ferreira. [[spoiler:Averted, however in the end. Rodrigues apostatizes in the end, but he does so to prevent other Christians from suffering, and he still keeps his belief privately, as does Kichijiro, who repeatedly apostatizes but still believes, and still considers Rodrigues his priest and confessor even after he has apostatized. Even Ferreira is shown to not have lost all his love and faith in Christianity, as he makes it clear he is aware that Rodrigues is trying to protect the Hidden Christians and not only never said a word about it until his own death, he also helps him in doing so, going as far as to subtly hint that he approved of his act and sympathized with him.]]

* BigBad: Inquisitor Masahige Inoue, a ruthless daimyo charged with rooting out Christian influence in Japan, serves as the primary antagonist.

-->-- '''Father Sebastião Rodrigues'''

''Silence'' is a 2016 [[EpicMovie Epic]] HistoricalFiction drama film directed by Creator/MartinScorsese, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks, ([[Literature/TheAgeOfInnocence his]] [[Film/GangsOfNewYork longtime]] [[Film/TheLastTemptationOfChrist collaborator]]).

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Rodrigues saves the Christians being tortured by Inoue, but he is forced to apostatize and work as a Japanese stooge for the rest of his life just like Ferreira did. However, although both of them go down in history as fallen priests who became Japanese turncoats, both are heavily implied to have kept their faith the rest of their life in secret and by doing what they were told to do, Inoue basically promised that the Hidden Christians would avoid more persecution since he knew they would remain a minority, and even if the mission failed thoroughly, Christ's message ''did'' reach and find meaning among people in an entirely different culture and background, albeit not a meaning that the mission and the church intended.]]
* BreakTheBeliever: What the Japanese authorities try to do. They want to force priests to apostatize, and succeeded in doing this to Fr. Ferreira. [[spoiler:It's averted with Rodrigues. He apostatizes in the end, but he does so to prevent other Christians from suffering, and he still keeps his belief privately, as does Kichijiro, who repeatedly apostatizes but still believes, and still considers Rodrigues his priest and confessor even after he has apostatized.]]

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Father Garrupe openly dislikes Japan and refuses to encourage any apostatizing for the sake of others. [[spoiler: However, Garrupe nobly begs to be killed instead of the Christian martyrs and tries valiantly to save them. Rodrigues watches Garrupe die in front of his eyes, and the Japanese commend Garrupe as more honorable than Rodrigues.]]

* VowOfCelibacy: As you'd expect from a film whose lead characters are Catholic priests. The associated temptation isn't a strong source of tension in-universe, but Ferreira is rumored to have taken a local wife as part of his fall from grace. [[spoiler:This is true. Rodrigues is compelled to take a wife as part of his forced assimilation into secular life, though it's not clear if the relationship ever becomes sexual.]]

* WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou: The Japanese officials argue that they don't want to persecute people at all, but that the Jesuits have forced them to do so.

* SecretKeeper: [[spoiler:Rodrigues' wife puts a ceremonial katana in her husband's coffin in the end. It's implied that she also secretly put his crucifix inside of his vest, which he had hidden all of those years]].

* TragicKeepsake: The Jiisama Mokichi presents Rodrigues with a small crucifix before [[spoiler:surrendering himself to the authorities as a hostage to spare trouble visited on Tomogi village. Rodrigues keeps that crucifix with him through his imprisonment in Nagasaki, and as the epilogue reveals, for the rest of his life, even when he served as an official charged with banning and preventing Christian images from entering Japan. The crucifix is revealed to be inside his vest in the basket coffin for his Buddhist burial]].

* LooksLikeJesus: Fr. Rodrigues' hair and beard grows quite long and at one point he, obsessed with the image of Jesus, sees the resemblance in a pool of water and starts laughing. It's crucial to the plot because it feeds into his vanity of wanting to be Jesus. In the end [[spoiler:he becomes Judas, an apostate who abjures his Lord but forever yearns for forgiveness and salvation that he can never be certain of receiving, DyingAlone without absolution yet seeking salvation nonetheless]].

* IllegalReligion: Christianity is outlawed and repressed in feudal Japan, and those who still believe have to practice their faith in secret. Indeed, until the end of the Sakoku period and the beginning of the Meiji Restoration, Christianity survived in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakure_Kirishitan a small community of hidden Christians]]. [[spoiler:At the end, Inquisitor Inoue admits to Rodrigues that he knows about the Hidden Christians but he won't persecute them since their beliefs are a minority, unlikely to spread and no threat to the state, with the implication being that so long as Rodrigues continues to abjure Christianity, the Hidden Christians will be free to practice their beliefs]].

* MartyrdomCulture: Desconstructed in the film with the Jesuit priests who are tortured by the Japanese into renouncing their faith. Since they were raised to believe martyrdom is the highest honor a Christian can aspire to, they are prepared to ''die'' rather than commit apostasy. However, martyrdom is intended to be done on behalf of others and the priests have to confront the fact their flock is hugely suffering when they are martyring themselves on their shepard's behalf, something they cannot bear.

* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Rodrigues at the end.
--> '''Fr. Rodrigues''':[[spoiler: "Even if God were silent, everything I have done, everything I have said would have spoken for him"]].