For Better or For Worse?
Directed by Roland Joffé, The Mission (1986), tells the compelling story of the Jesuits’ attempt to set up a mission for the Guarani Indians in South America. Faced with opposing outside forces from the Spanish and Portuguese nobles and the Roman Catholic Church, the Jesuits’ stood by their mission until their last breath. Starring Jeremy Irons, Robert De Niro, Chuck Low, Ray McAnally, Liam Neeson, Daniel Berrigan, and Indians themselves, the roles of the Jesuits, the church, the nobles, and the Indians were accurately portrayed and excellently brought to life. Through their use of accurate conversion methods, portrayal of past Christianity, and the brutality of some Europeans, the film The Mission convincingly serves …show more content…
Though there was absolutely no context given, this was one of the most powerful scenes of the entire movie. Immediately after this scene, other Jesuits are introduced. Father Gabriel, played by Jeremy Irons, is in charge of taking over the mission the deceased priest was trying to establish. The main idea of the mission was to convert the Indians to Christianity. He uses music to lure the Indians to him, without appearing as threatening to them. After gaining their trust, he brings in other Jesuits, (Liam Neeson and Daniel Berrigan), to aid the mission.
In the beginning, the film goes back and forth between the mission and Portugal, where slave owners were introduced. Rodrigo Mendoza, played by Robert De Niro, began as a slaver, but later went on to convert into a Jesuit. This part of the film sets up the conflict between the Jesuits and the Portuguese and the …show more content…
Eurocentrism is a main topic covered in both the film and in class. We have discussed how history has been told in a way that makes Europe seem like they have always been superior to the rest of the world. One of the last scenes of the film, The Cardinal and Cabeza, a slaver, were talking about the massacre that had just occurred. One of them brought up “It’s the way the world is, it’s the way we made the world.” Through this course, we have learned that this isn’t necessarily true at the beginning of civilization by studying the unknown successes of other societies at a time where Europe could be considered barbaric in comparison. The film has the same motive. It is not an obvious theme, but it is a prominent one. To begin with, it shows how an Indian Tribe is developed and functioning without the help of Europeans at the time. It also makes Spain and Portuguese out to be the “bad guys”, so to speak. By doing that, it helps point out that not everything done in Europe is superior or humane, taking away some of Europe’s value. Social classes was another point that has been brought up in both class the film. While studying other societies in the course, we have looked at how those societies are structured. Their structure usually consists of a social order, where the King or the Ruler were at the top and the merchants were at the bottom. The film doesn’t flat out say anything
Directed by Roland Joffé, The Mission (1986), tells the compelling story of the Jesuits’ attempt to set up a mission for the Guarani Indians in South America. Faced with opposing outside forces from the Spanish and Portuguese nobles and the Roman Catholic Church, the Jesuits’ stood by their mission until their last breath. Starring Jeremy Irons, Robert De Niro, Chuck Low, Ray McAnally, Liam Neeson, Daniel Berrigan, and Indians themselves, the roles of the Jesuits, the church, the nobles, and the Indians were accurately portrayed and excellently brought to life. Through their use of accurate conversion methods, portrayal of past Christianity, and the brutality of some Europeans, the film The Mission convincingly serves …show more content…
Though there was absolutely no context given, this was one of the most powerful scenes of the entire movie. Immediately after this scene, other Jesuits are introduced. Father Gabriel, played by Jeremy Irons, is in charge of taking over the mission the deceased priest was trying to establish. The main idea of the mission was to convert the Indians to Christianity. He uses music to lure the Indians to him, without appearing as threatening to them. After gaining their trust, he brings in other Jesuits, (Liam Neeson and Daniel Berrigan), to aid the mission.
In the beginning, the film goes back and forth between the mission and Portugal, where slave owners were introduced. Rodrigo Mendoza, played by Robert De Niro, began as a slaver, but later went on to convert into a Jesuit. This part of the film sets up the conflict between the Jesuits and the Portuguese and the …show more content…
Eurocentrism is a main topic covered in both the film and in class. We have discussed how history has been told in a way that makes Europe seem like they have always been superior to the rest of the world. One of the last scenes of the film, The Cardinal and Cabeza, a slaver, were talking about the massacre that had just occurred. One of them brought up “It’s the way the world is, it’s the way we made the world.” Through this course, we have learned that this isn’t necessarily true at the beginning of civilization by studying the unknown successes of other societies at a time where Europe could be considered barbaric in comparison. The film has the same motive. It is not an obvious theme, but it is a prominent one. To begin with, it shows how an Indian Tribe is developed and functioning without the help of Europeans at the time. It also makes Spain and Portuguese out to be the “bad guys”, so to speak. By doing that, it helps point out that not everything done in Europe is superior or humane, taking away some of Europe’s value. Social classes was another point that has been brought up in both class the film. While studying other societies in the course, we have looked at how those societies are structured. Their structure usually consists of a social order, where the King or the Ruler were at the top and the merchants were at the bottom. The film doesn’t flat out say anything