Nominated For: Best Cinematography.
In Silence, a number of Catholics endure persecution in feudal Japan for their beliefs and attempts to spread Christianity. A Portuguese church hears wind of this from one of the high priest Father Ferreira's letters and two priests are sent to Japan to not only retrieve Father Ferreira but spread their beliefs, unknowingly to face the ultimate test of their faith.
Silence is Martin Scorsese's passion project, he's been trying to adapt Shûsaku Endô's novel for over twenty five years and constantly claimed he wasn't quite ready to tackle the source material and I think he was wise to wait. Scorsese masterfully directs the feature length faith epic with gorgeous visual allegories captured by Rodrigo Prieto that are impeccably weaved and cut together by editor Thelma Schoonmaker. Scorsese's 74 years old yet his films are no less poignant. There are a number of interesting creative choices made by Scorsese in regards to the overarching sound design.
For one, Silence was appropriately silent. There's little-to-no score throughout, with occasional hushed instrumentals in the film's more pivotal moments, and even the dialogue was softly spoken, almost like a prayer (literally a prayer in some cases). The only background noise to be heard is nature itself, perhaps to be interpreted at face value as silence but to be God's voice by others. This obviously ties into the thematic messages explored about response to prayer. Scorsese and Jay Cocks adapted Endô's novel into a screenplay that is riveting as a character study, exploring the progression of three different belief systems; the devout believer, the doubtful follower, and the silent Christian.
Another undeniable strength of Silence is it's committed cast. Andrew Garfield may have lost the Spider-Man gig after Sony botched The Amazing Spider-Man franchise but 2016 has shown he's more than capable of sticking the landing and getting back to his feet with his remarkable portrayals in Hacksaw Ridge and Silence. Both Desmond Doss and Father Rodrigues have similar character arcs in that they faced trials of faith, but the characters couldn't be any more distinct and both roles demonstrate Garfield's incredible range and acting ability.
Issei Ogata plays our antagonist as Inoue or The Inquisitor, the driving force determined to wipe out all Christianity in Japan. The Inquisitor is a man of high regard with clear and understandable philosophies and motivations. Oddly enough, I believe this elderly Asian man may have been the greatest antagonistic force present throughout cinema in 2016.
However, Yôsuke Kubozuka's Kichijiro is probably the most interesting character in the narrative, a tortured human soul with a tragic backstory. Kichijiro is a broken man because he avoids earthly retribution through apostatizing regardless of what it may mean for those around him but he seeks to stand right with God and amend for his sins. Kichijiro is representative of humanity in that we all fall prey to sin and want compassion from higher powers, seeking forgiveness.
As for other supporting players, Adam Driver is a subdued presence playing the calm devoted servant and Liam Neeson offers another crippled character for the medium.
Silence isn't exactly the type of film you will come out of the theater gushing about, rather Silence is a self-reflecting spiritual journey. Scorsese succeeds in his telling of the faith epic as technical prowess is top notch, the formidable cast put-forth dedicated portrayal, and the film's messages are delivered in a way that doesn't come across as preachy or noncommittal. It probably requires multiple viewings to fully wrap your mind around everything Scorsese has to offer but you won't exactly be enticed to revisit the exhausting three hour journey.
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