“The Mission” tells the (mostly) true story of 18th-century Jesuit missionaries who died defending Guarani Indians from Portuguese slavery in the South American jungle . The film, which surfaced recently on cable's Sundance Channel, won an Oscar for cinematography, and the Grand Prize at Cannes.
How historically accurate is the mission?
The Mission overall gives an accurate display and detail of the historic period of the colonial conquests of the Spanish and Portuguese empires against the Guarani tribes.
What was the movie The Mission about?
“The Mission” tells the (mostly) true story of 18th-century Jesuit missionaries who died defending Guarani Indians from Portuguese slavery in the South American jungle . The film, which surfaced recently on cable's Sundance Channel, won an Oscar for cinematography, and the Grand Prize at Cannes.
What happened at the end of the mission?
Instead, the soldiers open fire and kill the unarmed Guarani children and women, as well as Father Gabriel. Mendoza himself then succumbs to his wounds. At the end, Cardinal Altamirano criticizes the European diplomats for the wholesale slaughter of the natives and Jesuits .
Is the mission a good movie?
Verdict. Powerful and atmospheric, if oddly structureless, The Mission is a magnificently filmed and strongly political view of the conflict between church, state and capitalism.
Who is Father Gabriel in The Mission?
It tells the story of a Spanish Jesuit priest, Father Gabriel ( Jeremy Irons ), who enters the South American jungle to build a mission and convert a community of Guaraní Indians to Christianity.
Why were the Jesuits expelled from South America?
However, directly as a result of the Suppression of the Society of Jesus in several European countries, including Spain, in 1767, the Jesuits were expelled from the Guaraní missions (and the Americas) by order of the Spanish king, Charles III . So ended the era of the Paraguayan reductions.
How does Father Gabriel earn the acceptance of the Guarani?
He steps out of the forest, grabs the oboe, and breaks it as the melody reaches its highest point. When the Chief's musically sensitive son takes the oboe to fix it , Father Gabriel is “accepted” by the Guarani.
Who is Cardinal Altamirano in the mission?
As the greedy Portuguese salivate over all that free labor and the Jesuits resist, Cardinal Altamirano ( Ray McAnally ) is sent by Rome to bring the recalcitrant Gabriel into line. The story, in short, has three different centers, and neither Bolt nor director Joffe' is particularly adept at weaving them together.
Do you think that the Jesuits were right in establishing the missions but keeping the real power in their own hands?
Do you think that the Jesuits were right in establishing the missions but keeping the real power in their own hands? It was not completely “right or wrong” but it was effective and did it accomplish it's purpose .
Why did the Spanish missions fail?
2. The Plains tribes resented the missionaries and their intrusion on their hunting grounds. 3. The missions were isolated and often lacked the supplies and people to survive .
What was life like in a mission?
The missionaries themselves lived a life of piety and poverty and were in constant danger and fear for their lives. Along with their Indian charges, they, too, toiled in the missions, farmlands, and ranches.
What is the oldest mission in California?
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá (Spanish: Misión San Diego de Alcalá) was the first Franciscan mission in The Californias, a province of New Spain. Located in present-day San Diego, California, it was founded on July 16, 1769, by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay people.
What goes over the waterfall in the mission?
One of the most memorable scenes in the film takes place when members of the Guaraní community living above Iguazu Falls tie a priest to a cross and send him over the falls to his death .
Is the mission a religious film?
Directed by Roland Joffé and written by Robert Bolt, the film stars Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Ray McAnally, Aidan Quinn, Cherie Lunghi, and Liam Neeson. ... Furthermore, it is one of fifteen films listed in the category “Religion” on the Vatican film list.
