The Mission (1986)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Roland Joffé

Writer:

Robert Bolt (original story & screenplay)

Release Date:

31 October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

18th century Spanish Jesuits try to protect a remote South American Indian tribe in danger of falling under the rule of pro-slavery Portugal.

Plot Keywords:

Religious Vocation | Missionaries | Dead Boy | Young Girl | Young Boy

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 12 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Rodrigo Mendoza
Jeremy Irons	...	Father Gabriel
Ray McAnally	...	Altamirano
Aidan Quinn	...	Felipe Mendoza
Cherie Lunghi	...	Carlotta
Ronald Pickup	...	Hontar
Chuck Low	...	Cabeza
Liam Neeson	...	Fielding
Bercelio Moya	...	Indian Boy
Sigifredo Ismare	...	Witch Doctor
Asuncion Ontiveros	...	Indian Chief
Alejandrino Moya	...	Chief's Lieutenant
Daniel Berrigan	...	Sebastian
Rolf Gray	...	Young Jesuit
Álvaro Guerrero	...	Jesuit

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:12 | Brazil:14 | West Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Chuck Low was dubbed by Fred Melamed.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Indian characters don't speak Guarani - the language of the Paraguayan Indians - but Wawnana -- the language of the Colombian Indians who performed in the movie.

Quotes:

Cabeza: I cannot and will not accept a challenge from a priest. His cloth protects him.
Mendoza: My cloth protects *you*!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Deeply human

I think "The Mission" is better than Joffé's "The killing fields". The background-story is about political power between Spain and Portugal in 1750 and a Cardinal sent by Rome. But above all it tells of two men. Jeremy Irons is Jesuit Gabriel who builds a mission in South American jungles. He has got a deep human character and believes in peace and love. Robert DeNiro is more interesting. After killing his brother in a duel, he changes from brutal slave-trader to an expiating Jesuit. One of the best sequences is when native Indians recognize DeNiro. It looks first as if an Indian would kill him with a knife, but then he cuts the rope with that DeNiro carried a heavy ballast of weapons and armings. DeNiro cries and laughs simultaneously because he is redeemed. This goes right through your heart. Chris Menges cinematography is wonderful. Ennio Morricone wrote one of the most remarkable scores of film history. Don't leave the cinema while cast and credits are running over the screen at the end! You would miss the last sequence!