Throughout the film, the Jesuit priests face persecution and witness the brutal suppression of Christianity in Japan. The authorities use various methods, including torture and execution, to force Christians to renounce their faith.
In the climax, Father Rodrigues is captured by the Japanese authorities led by the Inquisitor Inoue Masashige (Issey Ogata). He is imprisoned and witnesses the suffering of the Christian villagers. Inoue presents Rodrigues with a choice: renounce his faith or watch innocent villagers suffer.
To spare the villagers from further torment, Rodrigues ultimately decides to trample on an image of Jesus (fumi-e), symbolizing his apostasy. This act deeply troubles Rodrigues, and he lives the remainder of his life in Japan as an outwardly loyal servant of the Japanese authorities.
Years later, Rodrigues discovers that Ferreira, whom he believed had apostatized, had actually embraced Japanese culture and Buddhism. Ferreira argues that the Christian faith was incompatible with the Japanese way of life and that he found peace in adopting a new identity.
The film concludes with Rodrigues reflecting on his own choices and the nature of faith. He lives in Japan, secretly practicing Christianity while outwardly adhering to the authorities’ expectations. The ending is contemplative and raises complex questions about faith, cultural identity, and the cost of religious conviction.
“Silence” received critical acclaim for its thought-provoking themes, performances, and Scorsese’s direction. The ending, in particular, invites viewers to reflect on the challenging moral dilemmas faced by the characters and the nature of religious faith in the face of adversity.