As the DCM films are currently being shown, I thought I would take the opportunity to see the 1986 Warner Brothers film, The Mission. A short synopsis of the film provides a Jesuit priest, Father Gabriel, who faces difficulties in trying to spread Christianity to South American natives in a Spanish state that doesn't exactly approve of this action. Aside from Father Gabriel, a key character presented is Rodrigo Mendoza (Robert De Niro) who murders his brother and is later converted to Christianity through the help of Father Gabriel. Their attempts to convert the Guarani Indians is known as "The Mission" and is later threatened by Portuguese colonials who try to enslave them in their communities with support from the Treaty of Madrid. The film closes with Portuguese forces invading the natives territory and killing nearly everyone including the priests. The men responsible for leading the invasion try to convince the Cardinal that it was a just action, yet the Cardinal expresses unparallel feelings.
It was simple to notice the corruption the Portuguese provided by putting a halt on the mission and going to the extreme of killing hundreds of innocent people. I think it parrallels the story of Jesus in that the priests were spreading the Word of God to those absent of God in the lives and just like the Roman Empire, the Spanish and Portuguese colonials killed the mission that was to carry out this action. Along with this, I think the mission serves as the kingdom and the Spanish and Portuguese forces serve as the Empire. I say this because the priests mission followed Gods will and the priests have the purpose of converting the Guarani Indians to Christianity. The Spanish and Portuguese Colonials serve as the Empire because they are the centralized political power. They extend their power and rule over the culture of the Guarani Indians and end up eliminating their culture period. It was really interesting to see the connection between the mission and the kingdom and empire aspects presented in the film. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone intersested and would like to see it again myself.
Good post, Jay. Another interesting aspect of the film is the choices different men in the mission make when they are being threatened by the Portuguese government. Some take up arms and others choose to resist nonviolently. The climax of battle, when the nonviolent resisters are being gunned down while celebrating mass, is excruciatingly painful to watch--and yet amazingly beautiful at the same time.
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