Silence trailer is out!

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I’ve been hearing about this movie too, and it sounds interesting. Some scenes look like they might be too intense or disturbing for some viewers. As to its orthodoxy, I guess we will have to wait for reviews from a Catholic perspective, like Steve Greydanus or Bishop Robert Barron, to know how Scorsese did.
 
I’m hesitant and not excited. Martin Scorsese has a track record of graphic and brutal films. If this was a documentary, then maybe.

Ed
 
Here is an article I read about the movie yesterday. It will give you an idea of what the movie is about and where the idea came from.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more sensitive to violence in movies and find it very hard to watch. I think the movie sounds wonderful, but I don’t know if I’d be able to watch it. I haven’t gone to Hacksaw Ridge yet for the same reason. :o
 
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. It was thought provoking with a bitter-sweet ending (more bitter than sweet, in my opinion). I hope I’ll get to see the movie when it comes out.
 
I’m not going to pay $ for a ticket to see a movie directed by Mr. Scorsese who made a movie called The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988 and so this guy can fill his bank account off of me.
 
Dwyer said:
I’m not going to pay $ for a ticket to see a movie directed by Mr. Scorsese who made a movie called The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988 and so this guy can fill his bank account off of me.
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Oscar Wilde’s *The Picture of Dorian Grey * was criticized at the time for having homoerotic undertones. Two years earlier he wrote a short story called The Selfish Giant which has glaringly Christian themes. Ten years after Dorian Grey he converted to Catholicism on his death bed.

My point is that, simply, just because one man made a blasphemous piece of “art” doesn’t mean the rest of his work is also blasphemous, unless he’s consistent throughout. Who knows, Silence might be far less anti-Christian, far less blasphemous, and far more orthodox than The Last Temptation of Christ. The movie won’t be released until Christmas, from what I know. I mean, he’s not the Marquis du Sade.
 
CatholicWhovian said:
Oscar Wilde’s *The Picture of Dorian Grey * was criticized at the time for having homoerotic undertones. Two years earlier he wrote a short story called The Selfish Giant which has glaringly Christian themes. Ten years after Dorian Grey he converted to Catholicism on his death bed.

My point is that, simply, just because one man made a blasphemous piece of “art” doesn’t mean the rest of his work is also blasphemous, unless he’s consistent throughout. Who knows, Silence might be far less anti-Christian, far less blasphemous, and far more orthodox than The Last Temptation of Christ. The movie won’t be released until Christmas, from what I know. I mean, he’s not the Marquis du Sade.
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If you want to hand your $ over to Mr. Scorsese and financially support him and his bank account in return for 90 minutes or so of entertainment, that’s your decision.

I encourage people not to go see whatever films Scorsese makes:
Mother Angelica, a Catholic nun and foundress of Eternal Word Television Network, described Last Temptation (of Christ) as “the most blasphemous ridicule of the Eucharist that’s ever been perpetrated in this world” and “a holocaust movie that has the power to destroy souls eternally.”[15]
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Temptation_of_Christ_(film)
 
ClearWater said:
Is it based on a true story?
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Indirectly, yes. It’s based on the novel of the same name by the Japanese Catholic author Shusaku Endo. The novel is based on the true events of the vicious persecution of missionaries (Catholic priests) in Japan several centuries ago. If I understand correctly, the unique aspect of this persecution is that the authorities did not torture the priests; instead they tortured ordinary Japanese who had converted, and forced the priests to watch. The priests were told “We will stop tormenting these people if you renounce your faith”. As I recall, a crucifix was placed on the ground and the priests were told to step on it, as a sign of renouncing their Christianity. If they did so, the Japanese converts would not be tortured any more.

Needless to say, the book is not an easy read although it’s considered a great work of literature. I’m sure the movie will not be light entertainment either.
 
Dwyer said:
If you want to hand your $ over to Mr. Scorsese and financially support him and his bank account in return for 90 minutes or so of entertainment, that’s your decision.

I encourage people not to go see whatever films Scorsese makes:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Temptation_of_Christ_(film)
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What’s the issue with Last Temptation? It shows that Satan tried to tempt Christ (like in the desert) while on the cross. The film shows what Satan can offer him in exchange for getting him off the cross. If anything it shows how heinous and depraved Satan and his ways can get. Other than that, the film is solid.
 
punisherthunder said:
What’s the issue with Last Temptation? It shows that Satan tried to tempt Christ (like in the desert) while on the cross. The film shows what Satan can offer him in exchange for getting him off the cross. If anything it shows how heinous and depraved Satan and his ways can get. Other than that, the film is solid.
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I’ve haven’t seen the film but here is a review by Steven Greydanus, reviewer for the National Catholic Register. Judging from his account, it does seem like a disturbing film, with a number of elements that are incompatible with Christian belief.

decentfilms.com/articles/lasttemptation
 
Okay, I didn’t click on this topic at first because I thought this was about some Doctor Who episode (since the Church of the Silence does appear on DW).

But then I heard of the movie through another source. I have read the book it is based on, and as louisak mentions, it was written by Shusaku Endo, who was a Japanese Catholic. I assume the book is historically accurate, Japanese Catholics did suffer horrific persecution in the Edo period, many are officially recognized martyr-saints. However, I think many Catholics would find the theology expounded in the book to be questionable. I won’t say more since I don’t want to spoil the ending.

I am concerned, though, that Scorcese might put a spin on the story to make it even more theologically questionable. So I’ll probably wait for some reviews to come out before I decide to watch it.
 
I haven’t heard anything about the movie, but I can recommend the book. Frankly I’m surprised Scorcese would want to make this into a movie.
 
He’s been trying to make this movie for at least a decade.

Father James Martin SJ was a consultant on the film so maybe not be as bad as some fear it will.
 
punisherthunder said:
What’s the issue with Last Temptation? It shows that Satan tried to tempt Christ (like in the desert) while on the cross. The film shows what Satan can offer him in exchange for getting him off the cross. If anything it shows how heinous and depraved Satan and his ways can get. Other than that, the film is solid.
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The review by Greydanus is very good (as usual). I’ll add my personal experience: that film (in small measure) along with our culture (in large measure) helped push me away from Jesus for many years. And it did it in a way that was more pernicious than anything mentioned by Greydanus.

In Last Temptation, Jesus is depicted as a rather weak man – hardly a hero. This depiction of the humanity of Jesus fits the modern hollywood stereotype where people are weak, driven by their flaws and emotions, and incapable of any noble or heroic action. So in addition to destroying the notion of the divinity of Jesus, the film destroys the notion of a heroic human.

If the movie were a play presented 300 years BC, Aristotle would have criticized it for its negative depiction of human nature.
 
Slowlearner said:
The review by Greydanus is very good (as usual). I’ll add my personal experience: that film (in small measure) along with our culture (in large measure) helped push me away from Jesus for many years. And it did it in a way that was more pernicious than anything mentioned by Greydanus.

In Last Temptation, Jesus is depicted as a rather weak man – hardly a hero. This depiction of the humanity of Jesus fits the modern hollywood stereotype where people are weak, driven by their flaws and emotions, and incapable of any noble or heroic action. So in addition to destroying the notion of the divinity of Jesus, the film destroys the notion of a heroic human.

If the movie were a play presented 300 years BC, Aristotle would have criticized it for its negative depiction of human nature.
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It’s debatable that he was portrayed as weak in the film. Even if he were, him rejecting the temptation of Satan on the cross shows that “weak” men in todays culture, when bearing a cross can turn down Satan as well.
 
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