'Silence' trivia and fun facts
Confession
Martin Scorsese has said that he has read the novel Silence by Shusaku Endo many times over the years.
Jesuit priest again
Liam Neeson previously played another Jesuit priest in 'the Mission' (1986), and that movie's story was also set in the seventeenth century.
Flight
Ken Watanabe was originally slated to portray a Japanese interpreter to the Jesuit priests, but dropped out before filming commenced. He was replaced by Tadanobu Asano.
Cinéphiles Influences
Author Shûsaku Endô said he was inspired by Federico Fellini's La Strada (1954) in conceiving this story, particularly the character of Kichijiro.
Religion
Martin Scorsese's third religious based film after 'The Last Temptation of Christ' (1988) and 'Kundun' (1997).
Abandoned Project
Martin Scorsese and screenwriter Jay Cocks had written an early draft of the film in the 1990s with the intention of Scorsese directing it after 'Gangs of New York' (2002). But when Scorsese couldn't get financing for the project, he decided instead to do 'The Aviator' (2004).
The stars are replaced
Daniel Day-Lewis & Liam Neeson replaced one & another in projects that were both grounded in development for years. Neeson was primarily set to play in the role of Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln (2012) for years while it was stuck in development but when Neeson dropped out of the project, Day-Lewis eventually replaced him. Ironically, Neeson is replacing Day-Lewis in this film after Day-Lewis was initially set to play in the role of Father Ferreira in this film for years while it too was stuck in development.
Historical Licensing
The story is based on actual historical facts, but while keeping the character name of the hero's mentor Father Ferreira who was an actual historical figure, author Shusaku Endo changed the nationality of hero who historically was an Italian called Giuseppe Cara to Portuguese, thus making him the same nationality as Ferreira, and gave him the fictional name of Sebastian Rodrigo (in the English translation, translated as Rodrigues).
35mm back
After his previous two films had been shot completely or partly digitally, this is Martin Scorsese's first film since Shutter Island (2010) to be shot completely on 35mm film.
Change of plans
At the begining of the project, Daniel Day-Lewis had the Father Ferreira role, Gael García Bernal Father Rodrigues role and Benicio del Toro Father Francisco Garrpe role. They leaved the project because of the delays in the productions they were.