Maps of Movies

Silence (2016)

Where Silence says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A story set in 17th-century Japan, filmed entirely in Taiwan

Scenes and places

Father Ferreira watches priests tortured (1633)

Ferreira is forced to stand and watch as priests are tortured for refusing to renounce their faith. It sets up the rumor that will send his two pupils across the sea.

Set in Japan, 1633 — The film opens in Japan in 1633, where the Jesuit Cristóvão Ferreira is made to watch fellow priests tortured to death.

The opening scene is set in Japan but is not tied to a named place in the plot.

News reaches Macau (1640)

Rodrigues and Garupe refuse to believe their mentor has renounced his faith and decide to go to Japan to find him. Kichijirō, a Japanese fisherman stranded in Macau, agrees to guide them while denying he is Christian.

Set in Macau — In 1640 Alessandro Valignano receives word in Macau that Ferreira has apostatized, and two pupils set out to find him.

Macau was the Portuguese gateway to East Asia and the departure point for the Jesuits.

The hidden Christians of Tomogi (1640)

The villagers welcome the priests and tell them Kichijirō is a Christian who gave up his faith to save himself. When officials arrive and take hostages, three of them are crucified on the shore.

Set in Tomogi village — A Japanese village where Christians worship in secret for fear of the Inquisitor.

No coordinate is recorded for the village in the sources used.

Garupe goes to Hirado (1640)

With the village unsafe, the two priests split up. Garupe heads for Hirado Island.

Set in Hirado Island — The island where Garupe goes after the two priests part ways.

Hirado is an island off the northwest coast of Kyushu.

Rodrigues hides on Gotō (1640)

Kichijirō finds Rodrigues and hides him, and Rodrigues hears his confession again. Then Kichijirō betrays him to the authorities.

Set in Gotō Islands — Kichijirō's home islands, where Rodrigues goes after leaving the village.

The Gotō Islands lie west of Nagasaki.

Imprisoned in Nagasaki (1640)

Rodrigues is jailed with other Christians as some are pressed to step on the fumi-e. When Kichijirō is thrown in with them, Rodrigues reluctantly hears his confession once more.

Set in Nagasaki — Where Rodrigues is jailed with a number of Japanese Christians.

Nagasaki was the main center of Japanese Christianity in the period.

The Inquisitor's order at the water (1640)

Rodrigues is made to watch as four Christians are drowned, and is shocked to see Garupe among them. His faith in God is shaken.

Set in Execution site (place not named) — A shoreline execution the Inquisitor forces Rodrigues to watch; the plot does not name where.

The summary gives no named location for this scene.

Meeting Ferreira again (1640)

Rodrigues finds his old mentor living as part of Japanese society, convinced Christianity has no place in Japan. Ferreira says he has been told to persuade Rodrigues to abandon his faith.

Set in Ferreira's home (place not named) — Where Rodrigues is brought to meet Ferreira, who now lives within Japanese society.

The summary gives no named location for this scene.

Filmed at Taipei CMPC Cultural City (Zhongying), outdoor set — Scene not specified in the sources

Filmed at Dahua Pothole Stones, Pingxi, New Taipei — Scene not specified in the sources

Filmed at Taoyuan Valley, Gongliao, New Taipei — Scene not specified in the sources

Filmed at Teapot Mountain, Ruifang, New Taipei — Scene not specified in the sources

Characters

• Sebastião Rodrigues — A young Portuguese Jesuit who travels to Japan to find his missing mentor.
• Francisco Garupe — Rodrigues's fellow Jesuit and companion on the journey.
• Cristóvão Ferreira — The Jesuit mentor whose reported apostasy sets the journey in motion.
• Kichijirō — A Japanese fisherman who guides the priests from Macau.