Silence
US release date: December 23rd, 2016
UK release date: January 1st, 2017
What is it? A long-gestating historical drama, based upon the 1966 novel by Shusaku Endo. It’s set during the 17th century and sees two Jesuit priests travel to Japan to find their mentor, who has disappeared after publicly denouncing god.
Who made it? The film is directed by Martin Scorsese, from a script he co-wrote with frequent collaborator, Jay Cocks (Gangs Of New York, The Age Of Innocence).
Who’s in it? Adam Driver, Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson, Ciaran Hinds, Michie, Shin’ya Tsukamoto, Yasushi Takada, Yosuke Kubozuka, Issey Ogata.
What do we think? Silence is a highly anticipated film by virtue of the fact that it is a passion project of filmmaking legend Martin Scorsese, which he has been developing for more than a quarter of a century. Based in historical fact, the personal mission of the two leads unfolds against the backdrop of Kakure Kirishitan – Hidden Christians – in Japan, when Catholicism was outlawed, and religious persecution was officially sanctioned.