Silence

Director Martin Scorsese's rumination on faith and religion, based on Shusaku Endo's renowned 1966 novel, is something of a mixed blessing as it tells the story of two 17th-century Portuguese missionaries who undertake a perilous journey to Japan to search for their missing mentor (a fearless Liam Neeson) and to spread the gospel. But the ruling samurai are determined to brutally stamp out Christianity and Father Rodrigues (a totally committed Andrew Garfield) must choose between apostatising or prolonged torture and agonising death. Though it's a sprawling epic that is often slow and a little ponderous, everything thankfully snaps into focus with a deeply personal treatise on the human condition as Rodrigues wrestles with doubt and weakness on the way to a moving and powerful conclusion. Scorsese appears to be searching his own soul and his passion is clear. For those plagued by the same questions, it should make a lasting impact.