Reviewed November 28, 2004
I am reviewing this film because it ranks among the best I've ever seen. I've seen it several times over the last 15 years and it has never failed to affect me. Recently I watched it again on dvd and after spending several hours with the supplementary materials available on the double dvd set, I have an even greater appreciation of this remarkable motion picture.
"The Mission" is based on a historical event involving the colonial governments of Spain and Portugal, the Jesuit missions and the Guarani people of Argentina. Briefly the story is that after the Guarani were pacified and christianized by the Jesuits, the area where they were living was allocated to Portugal and the Jesuit priests were required to leave their converts and their missions to the mercy of slavers. Some of the Jesuit priests refused to desert the Guarani and fought alongside them to their deaths.
The film focuses on two of these priests, one played by Jeremy Irons is the first who successfully missionized the Guarani. The second, Mendoza, played by Robert DeNiro, is first a mercenary and a slaver and then becomes a priest and missionary. The third main character in this film is the Guarani people, played by members of Waunanee villages of Colombia.
"The Mission" is a genuine tragedy and the horror mounts as we see the Guarani betrayed in the collision of the mercenary political and religious agendas of the period. While based on a historical event from over 300 years ago, the topic is relevant since the same story is still being enacted with indigenous ethnic groups in many parts of the world.
One of the most remarkable features of this film is the presence - not the 'performance' - of the native people portraying the Guarani. This presence, containing all that is innocent and uncontrived, perfectly complements and contrasts the outstanding performances by Deniro and Irons. It is this presence that gives the film its unique quality and makes the ultimate tragedy so powerful. Beautifully photographed and accompanied by an affecting score, "The Mission" is destined to become a classic. See it soon.
(Review by Brian Horne - all rights reserved.)