Silence
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Scorsese's difficult, gory, but magnificent religious epic.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Silence
Community Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Long, slow and long...yep, long twice.
Report this review
A Must-See
Report this review
What's the Story?
In SILENCE, it's the 17th century, and two Jesuit priests -- Sebastiao Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Francisco Garrpe (Adam Driver) -- hear someone read a letter from their mentor, Father Cristovao Ferreira (Liam Neeson), who has disappeared in Japan. He describes many tortures under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, which has outlawed Catholicism. Rodrigues and Garrpe decide to travel to Japan in hopes of finding Father Ferreira; they discover that the situation in the country is as miserable as Ferreira described. At first, they're hidden by a village of Christians who are hungry for religious leadership, but then Rodrigues journeys further inland. He slowly realizes that the idea of faith isn't so simple and that belief can take many forms. He also begins to wonder why, in the face of so much wretchedness, are his prayers not answered? Why is God silent?
Is It Any Good?
This religious epic, a dream project of director Martin Scorsese for decades, is somewhat difficult and unwieldy, as well as a bit gory, but it's also magnificent, beautiful, and masterful. The Oscar winner read the source novel by Shusaku Endo while in Japan in 1989 and has been trying ever since to bring it to the screen; it's impossible to guess whether the results could ever have been any better than this masterful drama. Silence is a mix of Hollywood grandeur and genuine existential, soul-searching, much like the films Scorsese grew up watching.
For some, Garfield may not seem enough of a heavyweight actor for the role of Garrpe, but his eyes reveal genuine pain as he struggles with his personal crisis. The wonderful Japanese actor Issey Ogata, playing an inquisitor, gives a breakout performance, adding weight and humanity to the "other" side of the argument. (Silence never settles for any easy answers.) Neeson and Driver are also excellent, lending their bodies and souls to the movie's powerful cinematic depiction of landscapes, which are every bit as treacherous and shifting as belief itself.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Silence. What effect does showing intense torture have? How does it compare to other kinds of movie violence? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
When the characters are given a chance to speak out against their faith or allow others to suffer, why do you think they make the choice they do? What would you have done?
Why do you think Ferreira chooses what he did? What has he learned about belief and faith? Is he right, or did he make a mistake?
How did you feel about the Japanese inquisitor character? Is he a stereotype? Is he oppressive? Does he have a fair point?
Who do you think this film is intended to appeal to? How can you tell? What makes something a "Scorsese movie"?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 23, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: March 28, 2017
- Cast: Andrew Garfield , Adam Driver , Liam Neeson
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters , History
- Run time: 161 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: some disturbing violent content
- Last updated: August 7, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate