Silence is set in Japan and centers on two Jesuit priests in the seventeenth century. This time in Japan's history was particularly dangerous for Christians. Many Christians at the time hid their beliefs to avoid violence and discrimination. Silence's two priests continue to preach while looking for their mentor despite the danger they face. The film was adapted from a historical fiction novel by a Japanese author that won the Tanizaki Prize and has been hailed a 'supreme achievement'.