| Os Olhos da Ásia | |
| Director: | João Mário Grilo |
| Producer: | Paulo Branco Toru Aisawa |
| Screenplay: | João Mário Grilo Paulo Filipe |
| Based On: | Silence by Shūsaku Endō |
| Starring: | Geraldine Chaplin João Perry |
| Music: | Jorge Arriagada |
| Cinematography: | Jean-Paul Rosa da Costa |
| Editing: | Christian Dior |
| Runtime: | 86 minutes |
| Country: | Portugal France Germany |
| Language: | Portuguese Japanese |
Os Olhos da Ásia (Portuguese: The Eyes of Asia) is a 1996 Portuguese historical drama film directed by João Mário Grilo, who also co-wrote the script with Paulo Filipe. It is partially based on the novel Silence by Shūsaku Endō.[1] The film premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival on 15 August 1996 where it was also nominated for the Golden Leopard.[2] The film was released in Portugal on 11 April 1997.
Nakaura of Julian (Julião Nakaura), a priest of the Society of Jesus, was one of four young ambassadors sent to Rome by the Jesuits in 1538, as proof that Japan had converted to Christianity. Fifty years after the mission, which so fascinated European royalty, Julian was forced again to prove his faith, only this time before a shōgun, who wanted to force him to abandon his religion. Julian resists, as does Miguel Chijiwa, a fellow at the embassy to Rome, who become a martyr. Betrayed by Cristóvão Ferreira, who cannot bear the torture, Julian suffers an inglorious death ... or maybe not.[3]