Recently, I felt sorry for the old horse because the old horse "The Irishman" was out of 10. At the same time, it also reminded Oreo of another bead from the old horse's previous Oscar campaign - "Silence"
This movie has been in my computer for a long time, because it is a religious movie, and the plot progresses slowly, and I never have the patience to watch it. After finally staying up late recently, Oreo felt that this movie was one of Martin Scorsese's most overlooked movies.
01. Video information
"Silence" is a religious film produced by Paramount in 2017 and directed by Martin Scorsese, starring "Spiderman" Andrew Garfield, "Cairo Man" Adam Driver and Liam Neeson . This film is the last part of Lao Ma 's "religious trilogy" (the other two "The Last Temptation of Christ" and one cannot be mentioned because of sensitive topics, for fear of being banned).
Based on the novel of the same name by Japanese writer Endo Shusaku, it tells the story of the Tokugawa shogunate era, when Christianity was strictly forbidden in Japan, and the protagonist smuggled to Japan to preach.
Martin Scorsese - I believe that friends who like or study movies must have heard of this name. The general audience's impression of him may be that he commented last year that "Marvel movies cannot be called movies (Cinema), but more like theme park products."
There may be many Marvel fans who are dissatisfied and say why he evaluates Marvel. Oreo tells you, if you don't understand Cinema as he understands it, watch his movies.
His artistic achievements in film throughout his life do not need Oscar to prove for a long time. Classic works such as "Raging Bull", "Taxi Driver", "King of Comedy" and "Shutter Island" are his qualifications to evaluate Marvel.
02. Plot introduction
The story takes place during the Tokugawa shogunate era, when the Japanese government strictly prohibited the mission of Western religions in Japan, and Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson), after being tortured in Japan by a "hole hanging", swears to abstain from religion for freedom and life.
In the eyes of Europeans at that time, the "apostate" Father Ferreira was a disgrace to the entire European faith. Father Ferreira's apprentice Rodriguez (Andrew Garfield) and Father Gape (Adam Driver) search for Father Ferreira's whereabouts. Smuggled thousands of miles to Japan for secret missionary work.
The guide who led them to Japan, Yoshijiro, betrayed them to the Japanese government. In prison, Rodriguez saw various tortures of Christians by the Japanese government.
Facing the persecution of Christians, the Jesus he believed in could not save them, and gradually his belief was shaken. Japan sent a translator (played by Asano Tadanobu ) and Ferreira, who had disappeared for many years, to persuade Rodriguez Abandonment.
At this point, Rodriguez has to choose between witnessing the tragic death of Christians in order to save them from apostasy and staying true to their faith.
03. Background of the times
The time background of this film is the Tokugawa shogunate era (about 1600 AD), when China was the Ming Dynasty. Christianity has long been the mainstream religion in the West, and Buddhism and Taoism are still the main religions in the East.
As early as 1549, the Jesuit priest and Portuguese Catholic missionary St. Francis Xavier entered Japan and was the first Christian to preach in Japan. Initially in Kagoshima, Kyushu, he adopted Jesus' love for a forgotten leper and devoted himself to teaching the Bible. Afterwards, the number of Christians also increased, even threatening the interests of other religions.
However, everything changed after Toyotomi Hideyoshi came to power. In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as the de facto ruler of the country at that time, announced the prohibition of Western religious activities. Buddhism at that time was extremely influential and occupied part of the Japanese government's funding.
The colleagues were enemies, so they prompted Toyotomi Hideyoshi to launch the persecution of Catholicism in Japan. Anti-Christian merchants in Britain and the Netherlands at the time also participated in the persecution of Catholicism in Japan in pursuit of lucrative trade terms. In 1597, Toyotomi Hideyoshi crucified 26 Catholics in Nagasaki, killing 10,000 believers. In 1614, the shogunate promulgated the "Ordinance on Trampling the Image of Christ" to identify Christians and force them to convert or choose to go to prison.
This scene appears several times in the film. In the following decades, more than 100 missionaries still smuggled to Japan. The plot of the film takes place in 1640.
04. What is a "hole hanging"?
"Hanging in a hole" is a cruel punishment method in ancient Japan. The limbs of the tortured are tied and hung upside down on the wooden posts, the head of the tortured is inserted into the cave on the ground, a hole is pierced behind the ear, the blood will slowly drip down the neck, the whole process is awake .
The purpose of this punishment is to magnify and prolong the physical pain as much as possible, and the victim often struggles for several days before dying.
05. The conflict between Eastern and Western beliefs
1. Does God really exist, and if so, why are these believers still silent when they are being tortured? If it doesn't exist, then what are Christians looking for.
One shot was particularly impressive, when Rodriguez was caught with some believer villagers. He seemed to be more afraid of death than the villagers. Afterwards, the female villager asked Rodriguez: The female villager asked the missionary: Is heaven a blissful world without hard labor, without taxes, and much happier and more beautiful than the poor countryside. Rodriguez replied "yes". I'm wondering if he himself believes what he says.
If so, why do believers still fear death so much. This is also the first question of the priest to God. Didn't God come to the world to save the world, but these villagers were persecuted because of God. This balance of faith and life has always been a point of contention.
In the dialogue played by Tadanobu Asano and Rodriguez, we can see Japan's attitude towards Christ at that time. I originally had our country's religious beliefs. In our hearts, Buddha is God.
And as soon as your Western religion came, you condescendingly said: Your Buddha is just a mortal, and he will die, not the creator. Anyone who obeys God's will can live a peaceful and happy life. Your civilization is backward, and your faith cannot grow in the rotten soil of Japan.
Viewed from a certain perspective, it is sometimes a bit unreasonable for Christians to assert themselves while denying other beliefs. For Oreo, the will of both religions is true, but they just see the world from different perspectives.
06. Did Rodriguez abandon his beliefs?
Did Rodriguez and Father Ferrera really abandon the religion? In Oreo's view, no. Rodriguez's greatest difficulty on this path of faith is silence .
After witnessing the torture of persecuting believers many times, when he sought God's help in prison, God remained silent. Although there is not much physical damage, but the psychological is close to the brink of collapse.
When people pray and talk to God, the response they receive is only silence. At this time, people will imagine or create God's answer. People create the concept of God to reassure themselves and use God as their spiritual guide, so as to obtain spiritual support. satisfy. This is also the meaning of God to believers, to find the direction of life for themselves.
What is the original intention of Christ, to save all beings. This is invariably the same as Buddhism. It was the same with Sakyamuni cutting flesh to feed eagles back then. If I don't go to hell, whoever goes to hell .
And Rodriguez trampled on Jesus in order to save the five innocent believers. In my opinion it's just a form. What he did was just to follow the will of God. I would rather I suffer for you, and I would rather you trample on my idol than see you suffer.
What Rodriguez did was not the respect for life that Jesus expounded. God disappeared in silence, but in silence he gave the answer long ago.
07. What is faith
For Oreo, his favorite movie about religion might be Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge . Coincidentally, the male protagonists of both films are Andrew Garfield, and the two directors are also faithful Catholics.
The two films also have one thing in common, that is, the protagonists have asked God, where is the direction? In fact, they all make their own decisions, and God is just the courage in their hearts to strengthen their choices. This film is not only a journey of the protagonist to discover the true meaning of faith, but also Martin Scorsese's own insight into God.
All the movie reviews come from my own inner feelings after watching the movie. I am not a Christian, and I do not believe in any religion, but I respect different religious cultures. If some friends who believe in Jesus don't agree with my views, please don't care about my views as a non-religious person.
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