My reflections on the film SILENCE

https://www.filmcomment.com/article/martin-scorsese-silence-interview/

The film ‘Silence’ is, as recommended, a movie too good to miss. It is both challenging and inspirational and can serve as a topic for spiritual reflection.

It is about two Jesuit priests, Rodrigues and Garupe, who, incredulous of the reports about the renunciation of faith of their onetime mentor, Ferreira, went to Japan in search of him. Like most of the other audience, I had been watching with the hope that they would be reunited with Ferreira and would then have the reports proved false. How devastated I felt when later on Rodrigues himself committed apostasy! What followed was equally, if not more, disheartening. He and his mentor, under adopted Japanese names, helped sort through religious iconography gathered from suspected Christians, thus shattering the last bit of my hope of their repentance.

But had Rodrigues given up his faith completely? What had made him decide to trample on the crudely-made image of Christ? Was it not out of his compassion for the few Japanese Christians who were being tortured? When his body was placed in a large round wooden casket ready for cremation after his death, he was holding the tiny crudely-made crucifix given to him when he first came to Japan. Could this have been a sign of his persistent faith? Or could he have evangelized his Japanese wife, who had put the crucifix in his hand, thus helping to plant the seed of the Gospel among the Japanese?

Could his apostasy then be interpreted from another perspective? He could have enjoyed the glory of martyrdom by dying for his faith. But he had chosen instead to live in shame and guilt as a fallen priest for the rest of his life just because of his love for the other Christians. Could such manifestation of love have been an element of true Christianity?

If Rodrigues could be spared criticism, who or what then was to blame for this? He had been praying unceasingly to God for help and guidance. But God seemed to remain silent. Sarcastically, for example, the moment he thanked God for sparing the lives of a few Christian suspects, he heard their horrified screams following the slash of a sword sending a man’s head rolling on the ground! Was God so cruel as to have turned a deaf ear to people’s sufferings? Would praying mean anything at all?

On the other hand, there were times when Rodrigues heard Jesus speaking to him: “I was there when you suffered.” And when Rodrigues was hesitant about trampling on His image, he heard Jesus’ voice, seemingly giving him permission to do so. Was God silent after all? Or could it have been the Devil or a mere illusion due to his subconscious attempts to justify his recantation of faith?

The story has indeed involved such unsettling ambiguities that we audience cannot be satisfied with the black-and-white meanings. I left the cinema with a lot of doubtful thoughts in my mind. However, rather than trying to analyze the ambiguities, I started to reflect on my own faith.

Born in a place and at a time blessed with the freedom of religion, I may easily be critical of others’ lack of faith. I may even claim to be a good Christian. But if I found myself in a place where Christianity were imperiled, could I be so sure of my faith? I admire the courage of the Japanese Christians who, though subjected to persecution, persisted with their hidden faith. They had not given up praying despite God’s silence. ChristKichijiro, the Japanese guide, may have been portrayed as a timid person who gave up his faith repeatedly. But in him I see genuine faith. He kept coming back to Rodrigues for the chance of confession even after Rodrigues had given up his priesthood. And when arrested for the last time, he was found to have cherished a small crucifix in his pocket. If Jesus had forgiven the crucified robber on his right, He would, undoubtedly, have granted ChristKichijiro absolution, too.

Silent as God always seems to be, I believe that He is with us if we keep a close relationship with Him through prayer. I have now decided on a more prayerful life. In my prayer I will always remember the ones who have sacrificed their lives for their faith as well as those who have renounced their faith under duress.