"Silence" (2016)

[Magical Realist]

Another one that managed to escape my notice. Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, and Liam Neeson.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1097242513178714

"Some films challenge what we believe. Others challenge who we are. Silence (2016), directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, is a deeply moving historical drama that follows two Jesuit priests on a dangerous journey to Japan in search of their missing mentor while facing unimaginable persecution for their faith. Andrew Garfield delivers one of the most remarkable performances of his career as Father Sebastião Rodrigues, portraying a man caught between conviction, doubt, and the cost of belief. His quiet intensity and emotional vulnerability transform the film into a deeply personal exploration of faith, sacrifice, and humanity. Alongside unforgettable performances from Adam Driver and Liam Neeson, Scorsese crafts a visually stunning and thought-provoking masterpiece. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography and has since been praised as one of the director’s most profound works. More than a historical drama, Silence is a meditation on suffering, resilience, and the difficult questions that define the human spirit. ? Film: Silence (2016) ? Starring: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson ? Directed By: Martin Scorsese Some journeys test our strength."

[C C]

Ferreira tells him that they have already apostatized many times but that their torture will continue until Rodrigues also abandons his faith. Rodrigues hears what he believes is the voice of Jesus, giving him permission to step on the fumi-e, and he does.

Imagination (hearing a voice) is our friend in desperate moments. Let it similarly excuse us from the constraints of equally invented principles or Platonic concepts that we subconsciously feel exist at some nomological, immaterial, or supernatural level and must thereby never be violated.

Less than 1.9 million Christians in Japan, so on the surface one might contend that persecution of foreign beliefs was successful (if the point was to avoid universal replacement). But arguably similar stats across Asia, so it probably would have been limited even if doing nothing. Why would the bulk of Eastern peoples want to revere a dead Jew on a tree? ("Ew. All Westerners have huge noses. And they stink.")