Silence

Silence (2016) is a historical drama directed by Martin Scorsese, adapted from Shūsaku Endō's 1966 novel . Set in 17th-century Edo period Japan, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver star as two Portuguese Jesuit priests who travel to the country to locate their missing mentor (Liam Neeson) while Christianity is outlawed . The film explores faith, apostasy, and divine silence amid religious persecution . It received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography .