Cast of Characters

[arnzilla]

Cast of Characters
Ferreira - a lifelong Jesuit missionary facing the gravest test of his life
Inoue - a Japanese magistrate who interrogates Ferreira
Valignano - a rector of Macao Missionary College
Garrpe - a lean, restless 30ish priest
Rodrigues - a hungry, haunted, spiritually assured 30ish priest
Mr. Chun - a Chinese businessman
Kichijiro - Garrpe and Rodrigues' Japanese guide, 30ish, a ragged wretch
Ichizo - an old Tomogi villager
Mokichi - a young Tomigi villager
Goto Man - from the Christian village of Goto
Samurai Leader
Old Samurai
Monica - a peasant woman
Juan - Monica's husband
Interpreter
Samurai 1
Prison Guard
Official #1 - a fumie federale
Captain Jonassen - a testifier before the Jesuits

[foeller]

I have now finished the screenplay, and I'm not in love with it.
Here are some thoughts:

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
However, I hate the fact that we see Ferreira and his apostasy in the very first scene. For me an important point is to keep Ferreira as mythical as possible until our main characters meet him. Furthermore, they refuse to believe that he turned against christianity, and this doubt should be shared by the viewer if you ask me.

I'm not a big fan of the Jesus voiceovers either - especially the one all the way in the end "I was never silent...". It strikes me as cheesy and unnecessary. I also don't think it's important to see Rodrigues' burial. Cutting it after the conversation with Inoue seems more appropriate. The additional details with Kichijiro and how he dies feels forced.
MAJOR SPOILERS OVER

The screenplay was fine overall, but I didn't feel the sincerity in the words the same way as withs Endo's novel. Of course it is difficult and not crucial to get these details into the screenplay, and I still trust that Scorsese will do the story justice. I'm still looking very much forward.