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We’re nearly there — in about a month, Martin Scorsese‘s decades long journey to bring “Silence” to the big screen will be realized when the picture opens in limited release. And as it goes for a movie of such personal importance, the cast felt the responsibility of doing right by their director, with Andrew Garfield in particular studying extensively for his role as a Jesuit missionary, and even going on a spiritual retreat in preparation for the film.

“If I’d had 10 years, it wouldn’t have been enough to prepare for this role,” Garfield told The New York Times. “I got totally swept up in all things Jesuit and very taken with Jesuit spirituality. The preparation went on for nearly a year, and by the time we got to Taiwan [where the film was shot], it was bursting out of me.”

READ MORE: Martin Scorsese’s ‘Silence’ Won’t Screen For Critics Or Awards Season Voters Until December

“On retreat, you enter into your imagination to accompany Jesus through his life from his conception to his crucifixion and resurrection. You are walking, talking, praying with Jesus, suffering with him. And it’s devastating to see someone who has been your friend, whom you love, be so brutalized,” he added.

Co-starring Adam Driver, Tadanobu Asano, Ciarán Hinds, and Liam Neeson, the drama follows missionaries in 17th century Japan, who have their faith tested at a time when Christianity was persecuted in the country. Here’s the official synopsis:

Martin Scorsese’s SILENCE tells the story of two Christian missionaries (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who face the ultimate test of faith when they travel to Japan in search of their missing mentor (Liam Neeson) – at a time when Christianity was outlawed and their presence forbidden.

“Silence” opens on December 23rd. Check out some new images and the poster below.