Headline January 27, 2017/ ''' *A TEST OF FAITH* '''

''' *A TEST OF FAITH* '''

*THE RUTHLESS-UNENDING MISERY*  OF ROHINGYA MUSLIMS has dominated every thought and discussion at the World Students Society:

Students Merium, Rabo, Dee, Malala [Nobel Prize]  Haleema, Saima, Eman, Hussain, Ali, Shahzaib,  Salar, Zaeem, Hazeem,Faizan, Hassaan-

Mustafa, Ahsen, Armeen, Vishnu/India, Toby/China, Haider, Aqsa, Bilal, Jordan,  Paras, Sorat, Reza/Canada must  *consider looking at all the options*.  

*FAITH MIGHT BE ABSOLUTELY CENTRAL TO SILENCE".  ! AND Silence really says something much bigger about humanity!.

Mokichi, an  impoverished villager  in 17th century Japan, is an already broken man who is further broken as he is asked to renounce his faith. 

NO CHARACTER IN THE new Martin Scorsese picture possesses a devotion quiet as ironclad as Mokichi, a villager whose strength- sustains protagonist Rodrigues [Andrew Garfiel]  for much of the film.

Garfield and Adam Driver's performances in their lead roles are very fine indeed, but it was that of  Shinya Tsaukamoto, who plays Mokichi, that had me transfixed  during what is an incredibly intense viewing experience.

Creating him was a challenge and required a good deal of focus from Tsukamoto.

''While I was on set in Taiwan, I never went sightseeing,'' he told me. ''I was very stoic: A villager at that time would not have been eating well so I had to lose a lot of weight.

''Plus speaking English [Tsukamoto's second language] while wearing a mouthpiece that my teeth look worn was extremely difficult.''

''But preparing my body in such a way really helped me shape my spirit and my mind into the character.''

Mokichi and Rodrigues formed  a strong bond in the film, and Tsukamoto knew it was important that he and Garfield do the same on set.

''I did my best to develop an intinate relationship with Andrew,'' he recalls.

''on set, we were truly in character and even when the camera was on Andrew and only on the back of my head [for a close up shot of Garfield], I really gave everything I had so that I might be able to really reach Andrew emotionally, because I understood that the connection between Mokichi and Rodrigues was very critical to the story.''

Tsukamoto is himself a a prolific director and developed a strong cult following through his Tetsuo films.

But he had no  problem taking off his directing hat and firmly donning his acting one, as it were  -especially for a director he admires as much as Scorsese , for whom   *Silence  was a passion project*.

''Marty was very tenacious on set,'' he said, ''he would do many takes until he was completely satisfied that all the cast members had given everything. It truly was a passion project he was very passionate indeed.''

One of the film's most scenes [medium-sized spoilers ahead] sees Mokichi tied to a cross and subjected to the waves of the ocean until he is dead.

While he was never in peril, Tsukamoto really was drilled by successive waves in what was a scary and demanding scene to shoot.

''For the low tide, we shot at an actual ocean on a beach for the high tide, it would have been too dangerous so we filmed in a tank that can generate actual waves and control their height,'' he explained.

''It was quiet physically challenging because the waves were big as you see in the film, and between the waves, I had to figure out how to say the next line. It was pretty terrifying scene to film.''

Faith might be absolutely central to Silence, but the actor director believes its is very much an experience  non-believers  can learn and benefit from too.

''Silence really says something much bigger about humanity, he mused. 

''Through out the centuries, there have always been people who bleed in certain religions of movements of thoughts , and then, there have always been people who have tried to persecute them through violence.

''It happened back then in Japan but it's still happening today, so it feels like a warning.

''It brings a question to a modern audience by telling a story of a group of people who believed in something, who had strong faith, and people who tried to suppress them through force.

''So, I think it really does go beyond religion.''

The World Students Society to ensure that the Students, Professors and Teachers of Myanmar are posted on this writing and research.  

With respectful dedication to the Leaders, Students, Professors and Teachers of the world. See Ya all on !WOW!     -the World Students Society and.......Twitter !E-WOW!  -the Ecosystem 2011:

''' Justice Calls '''

Good Night and God Bless

SAM Daily Times - the Voice of the Voiceless