Martin Scorsese's SILENCE tells the story of two Christian missionaries (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who face the ultimate test of faith when they travel to Japan in search of their missing mentor (Liam Neeson) - at a time when Christianity was outlawed and their presence forbidden. This movie is the celebrated director's 28-year journey to bring Shusaku Endo's 1966 acclaimed novel to life.







Watch Trailer

Listen to Interview with Andrew Garfield

Questions for Discussion

1. What was your initial response to the film, and why? What were you expecting before we started?
   
   
2. How does Silence compare to other Martin Scorsese films (Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Shutter Island, Last Temptation)? What themes and characters interest him?
   
   
3. Which actors’ performances stood out for you? What qualities did each lead actor bring to their role?
   
   
4. How did the film create a sense of time and place? What details helped to immerse you in the historical setting?
   
   
5. What sort of emotional journey did the film take you on? What emotions were you left with when the credits rolled?
   
   
6. Which quote or line of dialogue strikes you the most?
   
   
7. Are there layers of meaning to the title ‘Silence’? If so, what are they?
   
   
8. How does the colonial attitudes in Christendom at the time affect how we understand and appreciate the story?
   
   
9. The ending. What happened? Is it satisfying?
   
   
10. Scorsese’s own words: Silence is “about the necessity of belief fighting the voice of experience.” Your response?
    
    
11. Assuming you profess faith, how do you prepare for periods of difficulty when God seems silent?
    
    
    

    Rodrigues: “I pray but I am lost. Am I just praying to silence?”