Film Analysis: The Mission
Brittany Riewe
7/18/14
The Mission
The Mission takes place during the Jesuit Reductions in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. During this time many Jesuit missionaries established missions independent of the Spanish state in order to teach the native inhabitants Christianity. Leading this cause is Father Gabriel, a Spanish Jesuit Priest, who arrives in the jungle in South America to set up a mission and convert a small village of Guarani Indians. In the beginning of the film, there is an image of a Jesuit missionary tethered to a cross which is being sent over the massive Iguazu Falls. This act encourages Father Gabriel to try to reach out to the tribe. Guarani warriors track Father Gabriel down, prepared to kill him, as he tries …show more content…
The Jesuits showed a genuine care about the spiritual well-being of the Guarani people where Spain and Portugal were not as charitable as represented by the government officials. Spain and Portugal had a culture that was based off of nationalistic viewpoints. Spain and Portugal were competing for power in the New World and were unsure about how to treat the native people. Spain 's idea was to maintain control by forcing Christianity and their culture on to the natives. Portugal just looked to enslave them to show their superiority. Both countries, though, looked for power instead of trying to help the natives accept a new way of life as these countries brought over colonists. Their main concern was to benefit their country versus helping others. These countries would do anything to show their countries power, including taking away power from the church to control the fate of the mission. This is made obvious in the scene where the Pope 's emissary, Altamarino, is to decide the fate of the mission. Father Gabriel sees the natives as naturally spiritual and tries to defend the Jesuit position. Portuguese officials see the tribe as unfit for civilization and eventually kill off any natives that resist their rule once the mission is disbanded and enslaves the rest. Either way Altamarino went, it seemed that Portugal would get its way in the end. From this it is also evident what the motive of the Church was; which was to maintain authority on the outcome of the Guarani project. With the revolts going on against the Church, the Church wanted to use the control they did have to get their agenda completed. Jesuit missionaries were left to succumb to their decisions and this affected the final
7/18/14
The Mission
The Mission takes place during the Jesuit Reductions in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. During this time many Jesuit missionaries established missions independent of the Spanish state in order to teach the native inhabitants Christianity. Leading this cause is Father Gabriel, a Spanish Jesuit Priest, who arrives in the jungle in South America to set up a mission and convert a small village of Guarani Indians. In the beginning of the film, there is an image of a Jesuit missionary tethered to a cross which is being sent over the massive Iguazu Falls. This act encourages Father Gabriel to try to reach out to the tribe. Guarani warriors track Father Gabriel down, prepared to kill him, as he tries …show more content…
The Jesuits showed a genuine care about the spiritual well-being of the Guarani people where Spain and Portugal were not as charitable as represented by the government officials. Spain and Portugal had a culture that was based off of nationalistic viewpoints. Spain and Portugal were competing for power in the New World and were unsure about how to treat the native people. Spain 's idea was to maintain control by forcing Christianity and their culture on to the natives. Portugal just looked to enslave them to show their superiority. Both countries, though, looked for power instead of trying to help the natives accept a new way of life as these countries brought over colonists. Their main concern was to benefit their country versus helping others. These countries would do anything to show their countries power, including taking away power from the church to control the fate of the mission. This is made obvious in the scene where the Pope 's emissary, Altamarino, is to decide the fate of the mission. Father Gabriel sees the natives as naturally spiritual and tries to defend the Jesuit position. Portuguese officials see the tribe as unfit for civilization and eventually kill off any natives that resist their rule once the mission is disbanded and enslaves the rest. Either way Altamarino went, it seemed that Portugal would get its way in the end. From this it is also evident what the motive of the Church was; which was to maintain authority on the outcome of the Guarani project. With the revolts going on against the Church, the Church wanted to use the control they did have to get their agenda completed. Jesuit missionaries were left to succumb to their decisions and this affected the final