NEW YORK — On the surface, a slow-burning religious epic about 17th-century Jesuit missionaries may seem like unusual territory for Martin Scorsese, an auteur of the modern gangster movie.

"Silence" tells a painful story — one that we need to hear. The tales we tell about serving God shouldn’t simply gloss over the reality that such service can often lead to a crisis of faith.

Martin Scorsese arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of Paramount Pictures' "Silence" held at Directors Guild of America, Jan. 5, 2017, in Los Angeles. Michael Tran/FilmMagic/Getty Images ...

Martin Scorsese’s ‘Silence’ is in big trouble before it even opens By . Kyle Smith. Published Jan. 10, 2017. Updated Jan. 11, 2017, 11:32 a.m. ET. Martin Scorsese JB Lacroix/WireImage ...

Martin Scorsese Defends Taking 22 Years and Counting to Direct ‘Silence’ (Exclusive) In response to a lawsuit over his decision to direct "Wolf of Wall Street," the famed director's lawyers ...

A scene from Martin Scorsese's latest film, “Silence,” a solemn religious epic about Jesuit priests in 17th-century Japan, which was violently anti-Catholic. (Paramount Pictures) Andrew ...

M artin Scorsese’s Silence almost offers a perfect allegory for godlessness in the age of Gawker and BuzzFeed.Set in the 17th century, the film depicts Japan’s persecution of Christian ...

Justin Chang reviews “Silence,” Martin Scorsese’s film starring Adam Driver, Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson and Ciarán Hinds. By Justin Chang Film Critic . Dec. 22, 2016 11:05 AM PT .

Acclaimed director Martin Scorsese has become the first filmmaker to participate in Georgetown’s Faith and Culture Lecture Series. On April 11, Scorsese joined University President DeGioia and ...

Martin Scorsese is determined to make "Silence" his next movie. The helmer and Graham King's GK Films are negotiating with Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis and Benicio Del Toro to star. Gael Garcia ...

Anthony Lane reviews Martin Scorsese’s “Silence,” a drama about priests in Japan, starring Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, and Ciarán Hinds.