Silence

Rodrigo and Garupe arrive in Japan to proselytize despite a formal ban on Christianity. They vow to continue their mission and search for their mentor Ferreira, whom they fear is imprisoned. The two priests face a fragile welcome from persecuted Christians while recognizing the danger ahead.

They are overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality of the persecuted Japanese Christians they meet in the village of Kichijiro. The locals offer shelter and small comforts, including cravings for home-cooked food. The welcome provides a brief sense of hope before the reality of danger closes in.

A detachment of Japanese officials and samurai arrives in search of the missionaries, forcing the two priests to reconsider their presence. Most of their flock are taken into custody or tortured for refusing to betray their faith. The two priests attempt to leave, but they become separated; Kichijiro later joins Rodrigo.

Inoue's men capture Rodrigo in Nagasaki and publicly brand him as a target of the crackdown. They throw 300 pieces of silver at Kichijiro, a Judas-like gesture that haunts him for his previous betrayal. The silver is later spent by Kichijiro seeking emotional support.

Rodrigo is taken to Nagasaki for trial while the authorities force a Christian samurai family to witness public humiliation and threats for practicing their faith. The wife Kiku recants under pressure, and the husband is executed for defiance. The scene underscores the crushing power of the regime and the cost of faith.

Inside the holding cell, Kichijiro, guilt-ridden, sneaks to Rodrigo and asks for forgiveness for betraying the faith. Rodrigo grapples with mercy and the weight of his friend's betrayal, illustrating the personal toll of persecution. The moment foreshadows the deeper decisions still to come.

Inoue invites Rodrigo to a private talk, attempting to persuade him that Catholicism has no place in Japan. Rodrigo defends the universal truth of the Church, arguing that the happiness of people and the conscience of the state cannot be separated. The exchange highlights a clash between faith and political power, with Inoue wavering but bound by law.

Rodrigo learns that Garupe has been captured with his Japanese companions and is to witness apostasy. Garupe resists, dives into the sea to help the drowning, and is killed by spears as he fights to save others. His sacrifice underscores the brutal choices faced by the priests.

Rodrigo is brought to see Ferreira, who is revealed as Lord Sawano and has apostatized, working as an astronomy scholar under Inoue. Sawano urges him to renounce the Church, claiming Christianity cannot take root in Japan. Rodrigo rebukes him, insisting on the sincerity of Saint Xavier's mission.

Rodrigo is imprisoned and hung upside down in a pit, with a small incision behind his ear to drain blood. Sawano explains that other recanted believers have been hung nearby for hours. Rodrigo endures the torment and clings to his belief in aid for those who suffer.

An interpreter brings a fumi-e before Rodrigo and urges him to step on it to prove his renunciation. Rodrigo complies, and a rooster crows twice—an echo of Saint Peter's denial. The moment marks his public capitulation to the regime.

After stepping on the fumi-e, Rodrigo is allowed to live as a samurai and is given Kiku as his wife, taking the name Sanemon Okada. Ferreira becomes Lord Sawano, reflecting Rodrigo's private betrayal in public life. The transformation underscores the painful costs of faith under persecution.

The film closes with a quiet image of Kichijiro sweeping the surroundings, symbolizing a fragile, uneasy survival for those left behind. The broader questions about faith, endurance, and the costs of truth remain in tension with state power.