This Cannes Film Festival winner and Oscar nominee is a quiet, observant film about the good and bad of Christianity. Set in 18th Century South America, Jesuit priests aim to convert the Guaraní Indians to Christ. As the startling opening sequence displays, not all approaches were successful.
Father Gabriel (Jeremy Irons, REVERSAL OF FORTUNE) succeeds with a peaceful approach, spurred by love and respect of the Guaraní, whose very existence is threatened by the war raging between the Spanish and the Portuguese. Rodrigo Mendoza (Robert DeNiro, GOODFELLAS) is a mercenary, who kills and enslaves the Guaraní. Then a tragedy makes Mendoza rethink his ways and repent for his sins by serving the people he once murdered. The Guaraní had an advanced culture before the Jesuits arrived, but the beautiful missions served as their protection — for it kept them safe from the rule of the warring European powers.
However, when the land where the Spanish missions sit is turned over to the Portuguese, the Portuguese want the Roman Catholic Church to turn over the missions to them. Bishop Altamirano (Ray McAnally, MY LEFT FOOT) is brought in to make the final discussion on the fate of the missions.
The first thing that anyone will remember about the film is its striking cinematography. After seeing the film once, one could easily watch the film without sound and still enjoy and understand every moment. However, silently, one would miss the haunting soundtrack by Ennio Morricone.
Irons and DeNiro come to symbolize two sides of the Indians’ struggle against the Portuguese. Irons is for love and DeNiro for might when used for right. The film has a sad, but honest way of looking at the matter. Which way is more noble when they led to the same conclusion? In the film, the Jesuits represent the good that religion can bring and the established church and enslaving governments represent the greed of power.
Director Roland Joffe followed up his equally powerful THE KILLING FIELDS with this film. In presenting a simple story striped down to a minimum, Joffe allows the striking visuals to tell much of the tale. This haunting tale takes its time to develop the story of its archetypical characters, who follow their hearts in standing up for what they believe is right.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
