Martin Scorsese: Films of Faith (1988-2016) (The Last Temptation of Christ / Kundun / Silence)

Three-disc set includes: The Last Temptation Of Christ (1988)Martin Scorsese's controversial screen version of Nikos Kazantzakis' equally controversial novel from 1955 is a dramatic and provocative interpretation of the passion of the Christ, with a remarkable performance by Willem Dafoe as a self-doubting Jesus haunted by otherworldly visions while on the cross. Co-stars Harvey Keitel as Judas, Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene, and David Bowie as Pilate, with Harry Dean Stanton, Verna Bloom, André Gregory; scripted by Paul Schrader. 163 min. C/Rtg: R Kundun (1997)The powerful true story of the 14th Dalai Lama is brought to the screen by director Martin Scorsese in this critically acclaimed biodrama. Identified at age 2 to be the latest reincarnation of the Buddha, the Tibetan political and spiritual leader is forced to flee his homeland after the 1950 Chinese takeover. Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, as the adult Dalai Lama, heads the non-professional cast, with Tencho Gyalpo, Tenzin Topjar; music by Philip Glass. 135 min. C/Rtg: PG-13 Silence (2016)In the mid-17th century, a pair of Portuguese Jesuit priests-Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Garrpe (Adam Driver)-were tasked with traveling to Japan and verifying that the governmental crackdowns on Christianity's practice had forced their missionary mentor Ferreira (Liam Neeson) into hiding... and into renouncing his faith. Their determination in the face of the overwhelming persecution they encounter is remarkably limned in Martin Scorsese's take on the Shûsaku Endo novel; Issey Ogata, Yosuke Kubozuka, Tadanobu Asano, Ciarán Hinds also star. 161 min. C/Rtg: R Widescreen; Soundtrack: English. Region Free