Hide Article Text (OCR)
‘Mission: Religion as dramaBy JOHN PRICELike most any book, film or other medium that wrestles with religous themes, “The Mission” is subject to interpretation and debate Some may deem it simplistic, left-leaning, pious Others will find the Mm inspirational, its weaknesses subordinate to its strengths The same evaluations can be applied to the performances of actors Jeremy Irons and Robert De NiroBut none can deny its sweeping beauty and drama — lush jungle, awesome waterfalls, period costumes and battle — which director Roland Joffe uses to draw audiences into the film’s central theological conflicts “The Mission melds religion and epic history in much the same fashion as “A Man for AD Seasons, and it comes as no surprise that they were written by the same person, Robert Bolt Whereas “A dan for Ail Seasons” dealt with church vs state, “The Mission” pits a group of Jesuits against both church and state In the mid*1700s, the Jesuits are trying to protect a South American tribe from Spanish and Portuguese colonists who want to enslave the Indians and divide their land The Vatican, locked in a power struggle wtth the crowns of Europe, bows to pressure to abolish the jungle missions where the Jesuits educate, convert and protect the Indians.Father Gabriel (Irons), leader of the Jesuits, chooses to resist the edict passively, by placing his faith in God Mendoza (De Niro), a former slave-trader who joins the * Jesuits as penance after tailing his brother in a duel, opts for guerrilla warfare Both meet with the same fate.Among the questions raised by “The Mission” are whether oppression should be fought by the Word or the sword, and what the role of the church should be be in secular affairs. Thankfully, the film refrains from oresumine to answer themTHE MISSIONStarring Robert De Niro and Jeremy irons, directed by Roland Joffe Rated PG violence Playing at Plaza CinemaCAPITAL RATING: * * *Although it’s presented as history, tie atrocities depicted in “The Mission” continue today in El Salva dor, Guatemala and other parts of Central and South America — a point made (too obviously for the film’s artistic good) at the conclusion So, too, does the debate within the church over what to do about itJoffe, who’s last film, “The Killing Fields depicted a different genocide — the Khmer Rouge slaughter in Cambodia — isn't as successful here, perhaps because he’s unsure of how to handle the added religious elementsDe Niro, too, never quite gets a grasp on his character — as if he also couldn’t muster the substantial leap of faith required to swallow Mendoza’s conversion from sinner to savior Irons, while quietly effective as Gabriel, seems to be competing with Mother Theresa for sainthood.But the actors' popularity, combined with the Palme d'Or (best film) award won at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and a renewed interest in religion by yuppies and otter baby boomers, may be enough to garner “The Mission” a sizeable audience.And in an age when Hollywood makes movies devoid of message or meaning and gives them names like “Wisdom,” you know that can’t be bad
Newspaper Details
Capital Gazette
Annapolis, Maryland, US
Fri, Jan 23, 1987
Page 48
Full Page
Clipped by
Jon C.
NJ, USA 15 Jan 2020
Other Publications Near Annapolis, Maryland
Capital Gazette
Annapolis Maryland Republican And State Capital Advertiser
Annapolis Maryland Republican
Annapolis Capital Gazette
Maryland Gazette
