By Armando

Between ‘Silence’ and the unexpected success of ‘Hacksaw Ridge’, it appears that Andrew Garfield is having a sensational year.

Based on Shusaku Endo’s 1966 novel about a Portuguese Jesuit priest persecuted in 17th century Japan, Silence is Martin Scorsese’s latest epic movie and it looks like another Oscar contender.

Considered “one of the twentieth century’s finest novels”, Endo’s original novel wrestles with themes of religious discrimination in Japan and racism in France. In 1971 the novel was adapted for the screen by Japanese director Masahiro Shinoda, and in 2007, Scorsese announced his intention to direct his own adaption, although its been reported that he really wanted to make ‘Silence’ long before that.

The trailer starts with lead Andrew Garfield’s Father Rodrigues and Adam Driver’s Father Garrpe conversing about a journey to find their mentor Father Ferreira, played by Liam Neeson. But this plan comes with Father Valignano’s (Ciarán Hinds) ominous warming: “The moment you set foot in that country, you step into high danger.” What follows is a collage of intense scenes of violence, religious imagery and executions.

‘Silence’ is primed for awards contention, as it opens in limited release on Dec.23, 2016, just in time for Oscar consideration, followed by expansion in early 2017. See ‘Silence’ trailer below: