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Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Irons star in this historical drama from director Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields, City of Joy) and screenwriter Robert Bolt (Lawrence of Arabia, A Man for All Seasons). Irons plays Father Gabriel, a Spanish Jesuit priest who enters into the deep South American wilderness to win the trust of the native Guarani and build a mission for them. DeNiro plays Rodrigo Mendoza, a slave trader who captures and sells the Guarani. But after he kills his brother (Aidan Quinn) in a fit of rage, he seeks penance from Gabriel. That penance comes in the form of helping Gabriel with the Guarani mission, where he soon takes the Jesuit oath and becomes a priest.
The peaceful mission, set atop breathtakingly beautiful but treacherous waterfalls, is threatened when Spain cedes the land to the Portuguese, who want to enslave the Guarani, not enlighten them. When the order to vacate the mission is handed down from the sympathetic Cardinal Altamirano (Ray McAnally), a moral and spiritual crisis is born among the Jesuits. DeNiro’s character chooses to help the Guarani fight the invading Portuguese, while Irons clings to his faith and remains adamantly pacifist. The rest unfolds according to historical events in the mid-1700s upon which this film is based.
The Mission may be an acquired taste for many viewers. Bolt’s screenplay is light on dialogue, but rich in thematic content. I was very moved watching Irons’ and DeNiro’s characters handle the Portuguese threat in their own ways. When you believe in God as these men do, how do you resolve a contradiction between your religious order and your God-fearing heart? The pacifism of Irons’ Father Gabriel is certainly an ideal, but when the world closes in and threatens to vanquish you, can you be so certain the counter-violence of DeNiro’s Mendoza isn’t God’s will?
The film is a somewhat meditative experience, where the imagery and music communicate as much, if not more than, dialogue ever could. Shot on location in Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, The Mission features truly awe-inspiring outdoor scenery that transports us to a primeval world nearly 300 years ago. Legendary composer Ennio Morricone combines native instrumentations with liturgical choir to haunting effect. The result is a score he considered his favorite in a career of over 400 films, a masterpiece that should be in every soundtrack aficionado’s collection.
Despite winning the Palme d’Or and several Oscar nominations, The Mission doesn’t seem to have the shelf life it deserves. I can understand criticism against the film for treating the Guarani as backdrop more than well-rounded characters, or for failing to fully utilize the considerable talents of DeNiro and Irons. But between the scenery, the music, and the thematic core of the story, I was both transported and moved.
With Liam Neeson, Cherie Lunghi, Ronald Pickup, and Chuck Low.
Academy Award: Best Cinematography (Chris Menges)
Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Director, Art Direction, Costume Design, Film Editing (Jim Clark), Score (Ennio Morricone)
Cannes Film Festival: Palme d’Or, Grand Technical Prize