Silence

The film begins in 1633 with a chilling prologue where the young Jesuit priest Cristóvão Ferreira witnesses the brutal torture of Japanese converts. Despite his efforts to convert them to Christianity, he feels utterly powerless as the Japanese authorities conduct their horrific acts.

Years later at St. Paul's College in Macau, Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano receives alarming news about Ferreira's supposed renunciation of faith under torture. This shocking revelation spurs two of his Portuguese pupils, Sebastião Rodrigues and Francisco Garupe, to embark on a daring mission to uncover the truth.

Rodrigues and Garupe are joined by Kichijiro, a fugitive fisherman from Japan. Together, they set off on a perilous journey across the sea, driven by disbelief and a desire to rescue Ferreira, unaware of the dangers that await them in Japan.

Upon their arrival in the village of Tomogi, the priests are devastated to find that local Christian communities are forced underground. The reality of oppression hits them hard as they witness the merciless torture of villagers by the Inquisitor, leading to emotional turmoil.

The priests bear witness to an unspeakable scene where villagers are strapped to wooden crosses, drowning as the tides rise. The memory of the subsequent cremation of bodies on a funeral pyre weighs heavily on Rodrigues and Garupe, igniting a sense of urgency in their mission.

Fearing further retribution from the shogunate due to their presence, the priests decide to split up. Garupe heads to Hirado Island, while Rodrigues ventures towards Goto Island, the last known residence of Ferreira, hoping to find answers and possibly rescue him.

Rodrigues searches the ravaged Goto Island, grappling with a moral dilemma about whether resisting the demand to recant is worth the suffering it might cause others. His faith is challenged as he navigates through a landscape of despair and loss.

During his search, Rodrigues encounters Kichijiro once again, only to be betrayed by him to the samurai. Captured and transported to Nagasaki, he joins other imprisoned Christians, marking a turning point in his harrowing journey.

Rodrigues finds himself in a tribunal, learning that Catholic beliefs are outlawed in Japan. He insists on meeting the Governor Inoue Masashige, who surprises him by presiding over his case, revealing the stark realities of oppression he faces.

After being imprisoned again, Kichijiro confesses his betrayal and seeks Rodrigues' absolution. Under immense pressure, Rodrigues is coerced into stepping on a Fumi-e, a symbolic rejection of his faith intended to save him from torture.

Rodrigues witnesses Garupe and other prisoners being led to the shore, facing a grim fate unless Garupe renounces his faith. In a final act of courage, Garupe attempts to save another prisoner but tragically drowns, solidifying Rodrigues' despair.

Rodrigues finally meets Ferreira, who reveals he also abandoned his faith. Ferreira argues that Christianity in Japan is futile, and this meeting forces Rodrigues to confront the meaning of belief and his own survival amidst suffering.

Haunted by the cries of suffering Christians, Rodrigues feels an inner voice urging him to forsake his convictions. Ultimately, he steps on the Fumi-e again, symbolizing his complete renunciation of faith in a desperate bid for survival.

Years after Ferreira's death, Kichijiro returns seeking absolution from Rodrigues. However, Rodrigues declines, having fully withdrawn from the priesthood, embodying his tragic transformation throughout the film.

In the end, Rodrigues passes away, holding onto the small crucifix given to him when he arrived in Japan. His body is cremated, representing the culmination of his journey with faith, betrayal, and the harsh realities of belief in a foreign land.