The Mission Movie Analysis
The Mission: Film Review The Mission was released in 1986 by producers Fernando Ghia and David Puttnam assisted by director Roland Joffé. Some of the actors consisted of Robert De Niro as Rodrigo Mendoza, the main protagonist, and Jeremy Irons as Father Gabriel. The movie, as a whole, I enjoyed very much. The character development in the beginning caught my attention and didn’t leave me constantly drifting off as other films might have. In the movie, Jesuit missionaries are trying to protect a native tribe they had converted to Christianity from Portugal who wanted to enslave the natives for their own use. Rodrigo Mendoza had to go through trials before he accepted his position as a Jesuit priest after he was given the choice by Father Gabriel
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to join them on their journey back to the mission. I believe both De Niro and Irons did an incredible job portraying the tribulations and emotion that came along with these missions they sought to create. The viewer really feels the emotion projected from the film as the movie progresses. The public should watch this film because unless a person has enrolled in a world history class or has been well educated on the subject, they would not understand what hardships natives (and missionaries) had to go through during the peak of the slave trade, an event that forever changed the course of the world. Each of the settings in which the movie was filmed were absolutely gorgeous. It was interesting to see the forest where the natives lived, turn into a Jesuit mission. The mission later introduced gave an idea of what the one created by Father Gabriel might've looked like if not for the Portuguese’s unquenchable desire for slaves, or in their eyes, wealth. The scenes where the natives were transitioning to this new life of Christianity was beautiful because not only did it show the transition of the natives but specifically Rodrigo. Watching him learn the language of the natives and learning of the natives themselves was heart warming. Since Rodrigo previously sold slaves, it can be assumed he saw the natives as savages and nothing more, however, after his penance he learns that they are people like him just of a different color and culture. The movie all together was visually pleasing, except for the beginning of the movie where Father Gabriel is climbing the waterfall. The far away shots I understood were to show how far off the ground he was but all I saw were shaky visual effects. I have not seen any movies from these producers or director however Roland Joffé has won many awards, as well as been nominated for multiple awards on top of those wins.
I would assume the movies he has directed have been very good to have received these awards and nominations. As for the actors, I believe they did an excellent job overall. The only parts I have mixed feelings about were how the deaths were acted out. It took away from the movie for me personally because they did not seem realistic. Instant blood and dramatic falls did not provide an accurate depiction of how devastating this event was. De Niro and Irons did an especially great job portraying their characters. In the very end of the movie, you could see Rodrigo’s struggle to hold on and Father Gabriel’s fear, although he would not turn his back on the natives who had put their trust in him. The other actors who played the other Jesuit missionaries did an excellent job as well, but in my opinion, did not have as an important position in the movie like De Niro or Irons. The actors portraying the Portuguese slave traders really took hold of the ignorance the Portuguese had towards the Natives. Ray McAnally, who had the role of the Cardinal, did a great job of showing how difficult the decision was for him to give Portuguese control as well as his regret and grief for the destruction that
followed. The story is one of a disastrous and grievous tale of the natives and missionaries who tried to fight for the native’s rights as people. The story, however depressing, captures your attention and leaves you with watering eyes and anger radiating throughout your body over how unjust the situation turned out to be. The movie is a weighty film that demonstrates the events of the slavery all because of greed.
to join them on their journey back to the mission. I believe both De Niro and Irons did an incredible job portraying the tribulations and emotion that came along with these missions they sought to create. The viewer really feels the emotion projected from the film as the movie progresses. The public should watch this film because unless a person has enrolled in a world history class or has been well educated on the subject, they would not understand what hardships natives (and missionaries) had to go through during the peak of the slave trade, an event that forever changed the course of the world. Each of the settings in which the movie was filmed were absolutely gorgeous. It was interesting to see the forest where the natives lived, turn into a Jesuit mission. The mission later introduced gave an idea of what the one created by Father Gabriel might've looked like if not for the Portuguese’s unquenchable desire for slaves, or in their eyes, wealth. The scenes where the natives were transitioning to this new life of Christianity was beautiful because not only did it show the transition of the natives but specifically Rodrigo. Watching him learn the language of the natives and learning of the natives themselves was heart warming. Since Rodrigo previously sold slaves, it can be assumed he saw the natives as savages and nothing more, however, after his penance he learns that they are people like him just of a different color and culture. The movie all together was visually pleasing, except for the beginning of the movie where Father Gabriel is climbing the waterfall. The far away shots I understood were to show how far off the ground he was but all I saw were shaky visual effects. I have not seen any movies from these producers or director however Roland Joffé has won many awards, as well as been nominated for multiple awards on top of those wins.
I would assume the movies he has directed have been very good to have received these awards and nominations. As for the actors, I believe they did an excellent job overall. The only parts I have mixed feelings about were how the deaths were acted out. It took away from the movie for me personally because they did not seem realistic. Instant blood and dramatic falls did not provide an accurate depiction of how devastating this event was. De Niro and Irons did an especially great job portraying their characters. In the very end of the movie, you could see Rodrigo’s struggle to hold on and Father Gabriel’s fear, although he would not turn his back on the natives who had put their trust in him. The other actors who played the other Jesuit missionaries did an excellent job as well, but in my opinion, did not have as an important position in the movie like De Niro or Irons. The actors portraying the Portuguese slave traders really took hold of the ignorance the Portuguese had towards the Natives. Ray McAnally, who had the role of the Cardinal, did a great job of showing how difficult the decision was for him to give Portuguese control as well as his regret and grief for the destruction that
followed. The story is one of a disastrous and grievous tale of the natives and missionaries who tried to fight for the native’s rights as people. The story, however depressing, captures your attention and leaves you with watering eyes and anger radiating throughout your body over how unjust the situation turned out to be. The movie is a weighty film that demonstrates the events of the slavery all because of greed.