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====The models for the missionaries====
The character of Father Ferreira was based on a real-life Portuguese Jesuit missionary. As in the movie , he was captured and tortured and abandoned his Catholicism in 1633. He later went on to marry a Japanese woman and wrote several books, that introduced Western ideas into Japan. As in the movie, he was a great missionary , and his rejection of his faith scandalized the Catholic Church in Asia .<ref>Breen, p 119</ref>. As required by law , he registered as a Buddhist at his local temple. However, unlike the Liam Neeson figure, in real life , Ferreira, helped the authorities to persecute Japanese Catholics and even missionaries. The character of Rodrigues was based on the remarkable story of an Italian Jesuit, Giuseppe di Chiara (1602 –1685). He had arrived in Japan to find Father Cristóvão Ferreira, who was discussed above. However, when Di Chiara was captured, he too was also tortured, and renounced his faith. Later he married a Japanese woman and attained the rank of a samurai. He lived to a ripe old age and never returned to Europe. The Endō, the book's author of the novel upon which the movie script was based, Endō, was inspired to create the character of Rodrigues by from the story of Di Chiara. However , it seems that the character of Father Garaupe, is entirely fictional , as is his heroic death.
====Conclusion====
Silence is a movie that deals with some of the most profound human themes, such as forgiveness, faith, and religion. It is based on real life events and it is much more historically accurate than many historical movies and period dramas. Silence does show the Persecution of Christians in Japan in the 17th century, in an accurate way. It shows the terrible ways that the Shogunate and the local lords set out to destroy the community. The horrifying details of the torture of local Christians are also very accurate. The Japanese perspective as to why members of the Western religion were persecuted is also given in the movie. The story of the missionaries has a basis in fact. There were many missionaries in 17th century Japan and many were martyred and expelled. There were some who under torture renounced their faith and became what is known as ‘Fallen Priests’. The story of Fathers Rodrigues and Ferreira are both based on real people, namely two priests who apotheosized and rejected their faith.
