MovieChat Forums > The Mission (1986) Discussion > The reason I despise this movie

The reason I despise this movie

posted 17 years ago by MaynardisGod
81 replies | jump to latest

This movie was a total glorification of the cocept of "The White Man's Burden." This was a concept that was born around the age of exploration that essentially said that it was the white man's responsibility to convert everyone to Christianity in order to save their souls. I don't really need to point out that this is one of the most disgustingly arrogant and racist concepts in history, basically stating that all non-Christians are heathens and are all going to hell unless they convert to the words of Jesus. Granted, I know that was a different time, but why in 1986 were we still glorifying this concept. In this film, you have these Jesuits who just come into this tribe, force the words of christianity on them, have them build churches and abandon their old ways and beliefs, because their old beliefs obviously weren't good enough. And the film makes it look so riteous and good. I know that one can make the argument that the people were happy to change their lives to Christianity, but in all seriousness, and I don't mean this in any kind of a racist way, these natives had no concept of the outside world, so when this mysterious man with different color skin comes out of the jungle and tells them these things, they're obviously going to be more suseptable to the indoctrination. The Jesuits were essentially exploiting the native's ignorances, which were reasonable for them to have.

"We're going to make Christains out of these people." WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH THEIR OLD BELIEFES AND WHY ARE WE GLORIFYING THIS KIND OF INDOCTRINATION!!!

And by the way, I know I can't spell to save my life, and there's no spell check on here.

[–] AngstromStrongbeard 12 years ago

"In this film, you have these Jesuits who just come into this tribe, force the words of christianity on them..."

Force? What force? As I recall, the Jesuits came armed only with an oboe...

[–] efa-3 11 years ago

You just feel guilty, care to share why?

It is not white burden, because it happens all over the world. Mongols, Ottomans, everbody. Every empire at one point of the other aimed to subjugate others, either via direct force, economical domination or subversively/ideologically.

The question in this movie is does might make right, and as such it is timeless.

[–] tikouka 11 years ago

Totally agree. I was brought up a Christian, but having lived in many parts of world, I see how utterly wrong it is (evil?) to tout that Christ is the only way to heaven. What about the millions before Christ? Where did they go after death?

It is like Christians claim a priority of Heaven. That is disgusting. And for missionaries to go force this on hapless people is unforgivable.

I looked this movie up in IMdb because it is on Sky tonight, but I am going to give it a miss.

Well written, my friend.

[–] hjls 11 years ago

I agree that some pretty horrendous things have been done in the name of 'religion'. This film is based on the type of events that actually happened. We cannot change that, as much as we regret the racism and falsely perceived superiority of the white man.

[–] kimdino-1 10 years ago

I feel the NEED to reply but don't know where to start. Perhaps by suggesting that you get your head out of the 20th century & put it in the 18th. Then you will be able to judge the story from the only context the participants knew of. While your head is there then the two or three points in the film where the film makers slip in the question 'Is it right for us to be changing these people' might stand out more.

I, personally, am an antitheist who sees little difference between preachers and drug-pushers. However, I recognise that the Jesuits were very good people acting, if naively, for what they believed was for the best. And this is exactly what the film makers portrayed.

Now to answer your point.
Should we just let stories like this die, then we can deny that we ever did such things? Or alternatively lie so that we come out in a good light?

I prefer to take the film as an object lesson in 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions'.

Now please watch it again, and look out for the points where Altamirana (might've been Gabriel) thinks it might not have been a good day for the natives when wind & sea brought Europeans, and the notes in the end-credits. Also, try and understand the scene after the battle when the children disappear upriver, shot in a manner that implies return to innocence as good.

[–] indioblack117 10 years ago

I thought the film was about the Jesuits bringing their faith to the natives, which the natives seemed happy to have accepted, but in so doing, remained free people.
But the Catholic church connived with the Portuguese and Spanish colonialists because they wanted to enslave the natives and take over their lands. So they slaughtered them and the Jesuits, and drove the survivors back into the jungle.
So the people of true faith and belief in humanity were Jeremy Irons and his Jesuits. The bad guys were the Catholic Church, and the Portuguese and Spanish colonialists.
Seems pretty straightforward to me.
And certainly the truth should not be despised.

[–] Internal_Sunshine 10 years ago

The Jesuits were essentially exploiting the native's ignorances, which were reasonable for them to have.

"We're going to make Christains out of these people." WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH THEIR OLD BELIEFES AND WHY ARE WE GLORIFYING THIS KIND OF INDOCTRINATION!!!

It's been a while since I've seen this film and this thread is ollllld, but I think you're missing the point.

The point was not to inflict their beliefs them for selfish reasons. It was to make them seem more human to the slave traders, and I find that incredibly saddening, moving, and selfless.

~We've all got light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on.~

[–] KingBrian1 10 years ago

In the scene when the Cardinal sees the mission he was mesmerized by the sincerity and holiness of the aboriginals. He described the Jungle as an Eden. In contrast in European people were challenging the authority of the church so the movie is far from being racist. A very pro Christian movie.

[–] CitizenCairParavel 10 years ago

But if they were thoroughly convinced that Christianity is true and believed that it was and is the cure for the world's ills, then I don't see how you can fault the missionaries. Anyone who searches for truth would want there to be an arena for the free exchange of ideas. Many will fall by the wayside after withering scrutiny. Others may actually thrive. Those that do may be very close to the truth.