Film No. 10 (2017) Silence February 6th.

Film No. 10 (2017) February 6th.  6.30 PM Greater Union Event Cinema, Innaloo.

"Ferreira is lost, he denounced god and surrendered his faith" (Father Valignano impresses upon Rodrigues and Garupe the reason their mentor has gone missing).

If there was any question over Martin Scorsese's devotion to Catholicism then let it cease. Scorsese takes us on an epic journey over 162 minutes of what it was to be a priest in the 17th century, dedicated to serving god and others then spreading the word of the saviour in enemy territory, Japan in the case of Silence.


The back story behind Scorsese taking two decades to make the film could very well be the topic of a film itself, much like Hearts of Darkness was for Coppola's Apocalypse Now. 


So how does one recommend a film so emotionally draining as Silence? One doesn't really. I can however reflect on the gruelling journey Scorsese inflicted upon me in firstly re-telling Shusaku Endo's novel and secondly giving an insight into why the forces of religious division continue to create havoc in our modern world even after the numerous lessons etched in history.


Two Catholic missionaries (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) gain permission to seek out their mentor Ferreira (Liam Neeson) who has gone missing in 17th century Japan. Their trek through a country cleansing itself of Catholicism is brutally enlightening. Garfield is the mainstay of our epic journey. His strength of will exasperates, particularly late in the film, it's why he's good. Pure film lovers who thrive on being tested in the darkness of a cinema shouldn't miss Silence. Film goers who love nothing more than to while away 100 minutes for entertainment's sake may find Silence a trial. 10GUMS.