Have you ever worked on something for over 20 years, then finally get to see it come to fruition? That’s probably how prolific auteur Martin Scorsese feels with the announcement that his “passion project” Silence will finally see a theatrical release, reports Business Insider.
Silence is a film adaptation of a 1966 novel by Japanese author Shūsaku Endō that tells the story of Jesuit Missionary attempting to spread the Gospel in Feudal Japan. The main character, who is played by Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man), Sebastião Rodrigues arrives in Japan to witness brutality directed towards Christians who have been forced underground by local authorities. He then has to battle with his own doubts and trepidation, as well as violence directed at him and other people of faith.
It sounds dark, but also compelling, as Scorsese films usually are. The film is set for wide release in January 2017. It also boasts some other big names in the cast including Adam Driver, of recent Star Wars Fame and Liam Neeson, also of Star Wars fame.
Silence will be a bit of a departure from what Scorsese is known for (I’m thinking titles like Good Fellas, The Departed, or Shutter Island), but it should be a refreshing jaunt into a topic not heavily covered in modern cinema. I’m looking forward to it.