Scorsese talking up "Silence" (Daniel Day-Lewis, B. Del Toro to star)

Variety ^ | 2.1.09

[swordfishtrombone]

Martin Scorsese is determined to make "Silence" his next movie. The helmer and Graham King's GK Films are negotiating with Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis and Benicio Del Toro to star. Gael Garcia Bernal is also circling the film, expected to begin production later this year in New Zealand. The drama is set in the 17th century as two Jesuit priests face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and to spread the gospel of Christianity.

"Silence" is based on the Shusaku Endo novel, which was adapted by Jay Cocks. Scorsese has had the project on his radar for more than a decade

[swordfishtrombone]

If the adaption is true to form, the Jesuit priests travel to Japan to discover the level of persecution towards Christians (Jesuits) is driven by anti-Western sentiment

Crazy antics and an unexpected romance follow before we all learn a little something about life and ourselves by the end

[durasell]

does hilarity ensue?

[heartwood]

I think crucifixions ensue.

Could be a movie along the lines of Black Robe

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Sounds like it would be a good story to expand a bit on what Clavell wrote about in “Shogun”.

[max americana]

Sounds familiar. The top 3 Christian saints from the Philippines travelled to Japan in the 16th century and they were tortured to death for spreading Christianity.

The Japanese were so insular and anti-foreigner that they destroyed anything Western. They make today’s Muslims look like a bunch of amateurs compared to the torture techniques of the Japs back then.

[JimSEA]

“Silence” could be done well. However, it will have to be, in large portion bleak though somewhat redeemed at the end.

[Verginius Rufus]

I read Shogun a long time ago, but came away with the impression that Clavell was anti-Catholic. I don't know if that was true.

This could be handled a number of different ways: West bad, Japan good...Christians good, persecutors bad...even Jesuits good, their enemies bad. The movie The Mission portrayed Jesuit missionaries in South America sympathetically.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

but came away with the impression that Clavell was anti-Catholic.

Interesting. I didn't get that sense at all. I think his accounts of the Jesuits of the time was quite accurate.

[BruceysMom]

Benecio, yummm, muay guapo!I bet that’s all spelled wrong. Yet still probably better than our “one language” dear leader could do. Thank you high school Spanish class.