I got to see this earlier this week in LA. To sum up how I felt about it in a single word: exhausting.

I don't mean it in a bad way either. Every element of this film is top notch and works together to give a feeling of dread. You feel the hopeless pain along with the characters on screen. It did feel like it dragged on a bit and could have been paced a bit tighter towards the end, but I wouldn't count it against the quality of the film at all because I feel like dredging on was part of the experience.

I personally really enjoy films in a similar vein. The pianist and schindlers list are two of my favorite films that despite their overwhelmingly dark and dreary stories, I can't help but love to watch at least once a year. For some reason I don't think I can say the same of Silence. Not because it was bad, but because it's engrained in my mind so well that I don't have to watch it again for a long time. I remember every scene, every beautiful shot. This was days ago and even now I can recall any moment from that film because each one took its time and you're so invested in it, it's almost like you are there.

If I had to compare the feeling of watching Silence to another film, I'd say it felt to me like Rescue dawn. I only saw that film once but I just remember the feeling of watching through that film, the same kind of hopeless pain and dreariness.