The Mission
ACTORS:
Robert De Niro
Jeremy Irons
Ray McAnally
Aidan Quinn
Cherie Lunghi
Ronald Pickup
Chuck Low
Liam Neeson
DIRECTOR
Roland Joffé
SCREENPLAY
Robert Bolt
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Chris Menges
SYNOPSIS:
Jesuit missionaries struggle to build and protect a mission in the Amazon jungle during the late 1700s.
CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER:
Often times, good does not triumph over evil. But it is still worth the struggle.
PROS AND CONS
This is a very good film. It won the Grand Prize at Cannes and also won an Oscar for best cinematography for obvious reasons. According to the opening credits the story depicted in this film actually happened.
The acting in this film is somewhat low key with the story and the scenery taking center stage. Having watched this film several years ago, I was struck by my slightly different perspective after this viewing.
The real focus is the turmoil and suffering of the Viceroy that is sent to administer the will of the king and not the fate of the native peoples or the Jesuits that are sent to show them salvation. The Viceroy, played by Ray McAnally, gives the best performance in the film as the ex-Jesuit Priest who now obeys the king and not the teachings of the church. In the end he is a shattered man, having done his duty against his better judgment.
This film is about the difference between doing what is right and doing what you are told. The struggle we all have between being obidiant or following our heart. This is a dilemma we all must face at least once in our lives.
The mercenaries and profiters try and comfort the Viceroy at the end of the picture by reaffirming that, "This is the way it has to be. So is the world made." To which the Viceroy responds, "No, So have we made the world." Even after 300 years, somethings never change. That is why this film still carries such profound meaning.
Wow. Definately on my list of "to see."
ReplyDeleteI remember not enjoying it very much when it came out, but I was 20 or so and I preferred anything with half-nekkid women or explosions back then. Still do, at times.
ReplyDeleteI do recall that it was beautifully shot. A well-deserved Oscar for that.
I'll have to watch that one- of course I'm curious about what goes on with the Natives, who so often get the worst end of the deal- but I guess I'll have to read books for that information.:)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth - it isn't a hard film to find. Blockbuster and Netflix will have it.
ReplyDeleteEarl - most of the films that I watched when I was younger were supposed to be great, but I couldn't understand why. Now when I go back and watch them again, I realize how much of a dolt I was for not seeing the meaning that the film maker was trying to get across. Fellini's 8-1/2 was like that. First saw it and it made NO sense. Saw it again 5 years later, and it was the most perfect film I ever saw.....still is.
Itinerary - The natives don't roll over and die in this film, but the end result shows that the white men (and religion) really do fuck things up sometimes.