- Title: Liam Neeson describes his new film "Silence" as 'incredibly thought-provoking'
- Date: 15th December 2016
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 09, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIAM NEESON, ACTOR, SAYING: "No, never did quite, no. He's quite a remarkable director. When you finish a scene he'll sometimes look at you and I know that look, it's like, 'I could have done better', or 'I should have done this or maybe I could have done that'. But, when he's happy he lets you know, you know? So, you always breathe out a sigh of relief."
- Embargoed: 30th December 2016 15:22
- Keywords: Liam Neeson Adam Driver Silence Andrew Garfield Martin Scorsese Tawian religion
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
- City: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA0045CZS571
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: After 28 years of false starts, Martin Scorsese is finally bringing "Silence" to the big screen.
The film is based on the 1966 novel of the same name by late Japanese writer Shusaku Endo, who was a convert to Catholicism. Scorsese was given the book in 1988 by an archbishop after the release of his film "The Last Temptation of Christ" and said it made a huge impression.
The drama, which will have a limited release December 23 after first screening at the Vatican in November, is about two Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, played by Adam Driver and Andrew Garfield, who travel to Japan in the 17th century to search for their missing mentor, portrayed by Liam Neeson, who is rumored to have renounced the faith under torture.
There the missionaries face a choice: they can save themselves and Japanese converts from death by crucifixion, burning and drowning if they trample an image of Jesus known as the "fumie" to show they renounced their religion.
Christianity was banned in Japan at the time but many Japanese Catholic converts continued worshipping underground.
Neeson said the film is both visually and mentally stimulating.
"I mean I think it's a beautiful film. It's incredibly thought-provoking. It's one of those films you don't just forget about when you leave the cinema, you know? Whether you're religious or not it's very, very questioning," said the actor.
This marks the second time Neeson has worked with Scorsese after a small role in "Gangs of New York" in 2002 and said the experience is always intimidating.
"He's quite a remarkable director. When you finish a scene he'll sometimes look at you and I know that look, it's like, 'I could have done better', or 'I should have done this or maybe I could have done that'. But, when he's happy he lets you know, you know? So you always breathe out a sigh of relief."
The co-stars dropped roughly 20 pounds each for their roles, which Driver said helped him not only look the part, but also put him in the mindset of his character.
"Well, you're playing a persecuted 17th century Jesuit priest so it's good to, I think, have a little struggle that, or you know, almost a discipline every day to kind of keep it in the world, maybe. Also, you're very tired and very hungry, as are the characters so you're not adding anything on top of the screens," said Driver.
"You're not trying to like, dress anything up. The only thing - the only energy you have really is to kind of listen and respond to what's going on around you and your screen partners and things like that. So in that way it was great, you can only listen."
While the film deals with many unanswered questions about faith, Neeson said personally he has no answers for life's biggest questions.
"I don't think I'm 100 percent sure about anything. Especially, now with this new president-elect, however, we shouldn't maybe mention that sort of stuff," he said with a laugh. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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