The mission

I thought it was around on new years day when I saw this moive, 'The Mission'.
The world wide famous character actor, Robert De Niro and Jeremy John Irons stared in the movie. This movie won many awards when it came out, people hailed this well-made, meaningful film.
It was made in 1986 and directed by Roland Joffe. "The city of joy" and "The Killing field" count among his major works. Those films also give us many thoughts about human dignity, God and what God's will it is.

This movie is based on a true story. Which means it dramatized a real story, "Guarani War" which broke out in 1756 between Guarani tribe and spain-portugal soilders. This story reflects that times well. For better understanding, you need to be know more about the histoy at that time. Why it happened, and what is the background of that case?


In 1970, Spain and Portugal signed a "Treaty of Madrid" on Jaunary 13th in 1750. This treaty set a line of demarcation between Spanish and Portugeses colonial territory in South America.
Under this treaty the bound of their two countries was changed. Spain received the Sacramento Colony and Portugal received the Misiones Orientales.
However the Misiones Orientales was an alomst fully independent area created and ruled by the Chatolic order of the Jesuit. Many Jesuit priest lived with native people, cultivating farmland and teaching them christianity.(Bible). They were very happy and they believed that it was a God's will and it's a heaven from GOD. But under the "Treaty of Madrid" , they had to move out from their home. Because Jesuit belonged to the Spain. The Jesuit surrended the control of the missions but the Guarani led by Sepe Tiaraju refused to comply with the order to relocate.
In 1974, Spanish army attacked the Guarani to remove them from mission but it failed. They combined with Portuguese army and attacked the Guarani again. At the result 1,511 Guarani people and priests died. The mission dramatized this event. (based on this event)


There are two main charaters. One is a Father Gabriel (by Jeremy John Irons) and the other is a slaver, Rodrigo (by Robert De Niro). Gabriel goes to Guarani village in order to preach the Gospel to the native people. They are very against Priest and Church. Many priest was killed by them. But Gabriel don't give up christianize them. He risked of his life to do that. The first thing what he did when he got a village was playing Oboe. Because he knew that the Guarani loves music,playing instrument so he thought that music could be a good way to approach them and make their minds open. His guess was right. They build a mission together and have a peaceful life in there.


On the other hand, Rodrigo, a cruel slaver killed his brother in a anger. Because his brother fell in love with Rodrigo's love. It's a tragedy for him. He was in a deep sorrow and panic. After killing his brother by accident he was tormented by a guity conscience. From that day, he became ruined and dejected. Gabriel took him and led to a Guarani village. He carried heavy things on his shoulder such as weapons what he used to use for a native people. It's the only way what he can do to atone for killing his brother. When he arrived the village, the native people regonized him. It looks first as if an native people would kill him with a sharp knife, but then he cuts the rope with that Rodrigo carried a heavy ballast(벨리스트,모래주머니,바닥짐). Rodrigo
cries and laughs simultaneously. They forgive Rodrigo who hunt, sell and kill their friend and family. Then while he was living in their mission, he was touched very much and decided to be a priest.


But their happiness didn't last for long. Spain and Portugal, those two countries singed a "Tready of Madrid" which means the mission had to be relocated. But they didn't follow the tready.
A Cardinal who was sent from Roman Church to persuade the Jesuit Priest to follow the tready, he said to Gabriel, "Tell them they must leave the missions. They must submit to the will of God."
However, they didn't accept his order. Instead of that, they asked back. " It was the will of God that we came out of the jungle and built the mission. We don't understand why God has changed his mind. Then they decided to fight with Spainish and Portuguese army. Those priest in that mission also promise to fight together, except Gabriel. He insisted that the priest would help people as a priest. If we fight with them, If we kill them, there is no where God's will can live. God is love. Then he stayed in the village with women and children those who can't go to battle.

Can you guess what happened next?

I want to just give these last saying by Cardians.
" So, your Holiness, now your priests are dead, and I am left alive. But in truth it is I who am dead, and they who live. For as always, your Holiness, the spirit of the dead will survive in the memory of the living. "