Black Robe
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Movie Reviews of Black Robe
Movie Review: Stunning & Heartbreaking
Summary: 5 Stars
This visually stunning and ultimately heartbreaking film by Bruce Beresford became something of a rental cult classic after it disappeared from theaters. Based on Brian Moore's fine novel of the same name (which I also read), the film's central character is young Father Laforgue, an idealistic French Jesuit priest who is determined to bring the light of salvation to the savages, i.e., the Algonquin, Mohawk, and Huron nations who inhabit "New France" in the Canadian frontier in the mid-17th century. The title of the film refers to the name the Indians have given to the French priests because of their long black habits.
Fr. Laforgue is given a mission at the start of the film: to travel 1,500 miles north by river to the Jesuit mission in Huron territory, to assist the aging priest who can no longer function on his own there. Fr. Laforgue's long journey by canoe, guided by a band of Algonquin who have agreed to take him to Huron country for a heap of trade goods, is doubly perilous as it begins just as winter is setting in. The journey north comprises most of the film, and for all concerned becomes one of evolution of the mind and soul as well as bodily hardship, as Fr. Laforgue and his Algonquin companions get to know each other and begin to question the assumptions that each has made of the other's culture.
The cinematography is breathtaking, and as the film was shot on location in Canada during mid-winter, the actors involved have referred to this shoot as one of the most painful and difficult in their experience. The cast is wonderful, with special mention to Lothaire Bluteau as Fr. Laforgue and August Schellenberg as Chomina, the Algonquin chief. Composer Georges Delrue produced a beautiful score for the film, which enhances but never intrudes upon it (Delrue also did the striking score for "Anne of a Thousand Days"). The rest of the cast is also exceptional, with Aden Young giving a nicely restrained performance of the young Frenchman who accompanies Fr. Laforgue, but during the journey slowly goes "native under the skin", as it is sometimes put.
The film is sad and at times quite disturbing, exploring the cruelty, both unintended and deliberate, that humans inflict upon each other in the name of cultural bonding and beliefs. The condescension of white Europeans toward Native cultures is not spared, but neither is the ritual cruelty inflicted by Indians of different tribal affiliations on each other. Fr. Laforgue and his companions are ambushed and captured by a band of Mohawks on the way northward and are tortured and humiliated by them, barely escaping via the seduction of the Mohawk guard by Chomina's beautiful young daughter. In fact, there was some outcry in the Native community when the film came out because the Mohawks are shown only as brutal torturers without any other social context. However, as Chomina grimly points out to Fr. Laforgue, when he protests that these Mohawks are nothing like Chomina and his family, "We would have done the same thing." More than anything else, "Black Robe" is an indictment of assumptions of cultural and spiritual superiority - a trait shared in the film by both the Natives and the Europeans.
The film's ending presages the catastrophe for Native peoples that European emigration to and conquest of North America will bring about in another 150 years. However, on an individual note, it is a tender and evolved ending. By the end of his journey, Fr. Laforgue questions whether acceptance of baptism without understanding its meaning represents a true salvation. When a man among the crowd of Hurons asks Fr. Laforgue if he loves them, Fr. Laforgue looks out at them and sees not a group of savage souls to add to the Christian heaven, but indivdual human beings. "Yes," he whispers, his eyes filling with tears, "I love you."
This is a very affecting film and a far superior entry into the European/Native "culture clash" genre than films such as Kevin Costner's "Dances With Wolves" and Michael Mann's "Last of the Mohicans". I don't say that these films did not work on their own terms or that they did not at least try to repair decades of the film industry's insensitive portrayals of indigenous peoples, but those films were made and intended for the action/adventure market and show it.
"Black Robe" is a vastly more complex and adult - and less comfortable - exploration of the "culture clash" theme, and its emotional impact lingers in the mind and heart long after the credits fade.
Movie Review: Gorgeous Scenes of Iriquois culture and language
Summary: 5 Stars
Black Robe is a very intriguing story about missionaries back in the early 1600s who are seeking to "civilize and tame" the native Americans. The incoming groups are settling in eastern Canada, and a missionary - called "black robe" by the Algonquin - wants to go up to Quebec to help with conversions there. He needs a group of Algonquin to help him make that trek, as winter is about to hit. A local young man - one who can speak Algonquin and is looking for adventure - comes along as well.
As tends to happen in these movies, the guy falls in love with the chief's beautiful daughter, and the two civilizations slowly learn about each other. Black robe wows the Algonquin with the concept of writing, and the Algonquin teach black robe something about the meaning of sharing.
There are many interesting scenes involving Algonquin language, singing, dancing and the lovely outfits. There was a lot of effort put forth to make those things accurate. While some of the plot seems predictable, I found I could let that slide.
It's nice that there are no "good guys" or "bad guys" here. The missionary truly wants to help save the souls of the natives, and he's not taking the easy road out. He could have gone for a cushy life - and he's chosen to head into the frigid lands of a Canadian winter. He's hoping to bring peace and comfort to a group that is constantly at war.
The natives are pretty grey as well. They distrust the newcomers - but they are taking in the cooking gear, tobacco and other supplies. They agree to take black robe up to Quebec in return for supplies - but once they get the supplies (and extra tobacco as well) they take off on the missionary, abandoning him in a landscape that will surely kill him. When the young man chases after them in desperation, trying to remain with their group, one of the Algonquin almost shoots him. Only the chief's intervention saves his life. After some contemplation, the chief decides to return to get Black Robe and be true to his promise.
Things go poorly. The group is attacked by the Huron and captured. The Huron brutally torture them - but the Algonquin chief points out that this is normal and it's what the Algonquin would have done. The daughter sexually seduces a guard, then kills him so they can escape. As the movie winds to its ending, you find that nobody really wins in the land of fierce fighting, illness and harsh cold.
I really love movies that help to preserve the wonderful Native languages and songs. This is definitely a movie to watch, if for that reason alone - and of course for the gorgeous landscapes.
Movie Review: How Do I Love this Movie?.......Let me count the ways.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was captivated by this film from the moment I saw it. I remember it came out around the mid 90's, not long after Kevin Costner's Epic 'Dances With Wolves' made its Hollywood impact. Yet to my mind Bruce Beresford's depiction of the French Jesuit Priests on a mission in New France in the 17th century to save the so called 'savages' or natives from 'outer darkness', had an honesty that was both far more movingly beautiful even if brutally cruel.Why do I love this film so much? Let me count the ways. Well it's such a balanced and intelligent exploration of a complex subject. It presents no real right or wrong, no black or white, moral preachiness, or good guy/bad guy mentality. It paints a well researched and respectful picture of the Native American culture, steering away from demeaning stereotypes and hollywood predictability.
Spiritualality and its cultural separations, are definitely a central theme in this film, and I just love the way Beresford treats both subjects and cultures with empathy and dignity. Father La Forgue however, seems the more forlorn and tragic figure here, out of his element amidst the icy, harsh Canadian landscape where nature shows no mercy. Deluded somewhat in his quest to save a race and culture, who perhaps ultimately, have just as much to teach the white man in terms of honour, bravery, respect for the laws of nature and avoidance of greed and ego. The cinematography, musical score and imagery are memorably beautiful. Particularly the references to the importance of dreams, and 'The waking world perhaps being an illusion'. The film also questions the hypocracy and interpretation of religion in a sense. Specifically, where 'Daniel'(Aiden Young), Father La Forgue's faithful assistant (torn between his devotion to his faith and love/lust for an Algonquian maiden 'Annuka'), makes the point." But they are true Christians Father, they live for each other, they forgive things we would never forgive".
There are some impressive performances here. French Canadian, 'Lothaire Bluteau', of previous 'Jesus of Montreal' fame, is well cast as the young idealistic Jesuit Priest, Father La Forgue. He brings a suitable aura of gentle religious reverence to the role. But I particularly love the character of Chomina (August Schellenburg?). Who I think so perfectly represents the strong, noble and honourable Indian, coupled with a touching fragility and humanity that adds complexity to his character. An impressive film that provokes many thoughts and questions, it leaves the audience to make its own view point without force feeding them. And that in my view is cinema at its best.
Movie Review: Gives a feeling of 'this is how it really was'
Summary: 5 Stars
There are remarkably few historical movies which give you the feeling of actually being in another time and place. In almost all costume dramas, however accurate the costumes and sets may be, the characters think, speak and act like people of the present day. The issues are modern issues, and the movies are colored by modern political correctness, and by romanticized and simplified views of the past.
Black Robe is a movie that makes you feel "this is how things really were." It shows both Native Americans and European settlers honestly in all their humanity and complexity. But the issues are 17th century issues, not 21st century issues. The movie is not self-concious, or preachy, or pushing a particular agenda. It's just telling a good story, and telling it very well.
This is perhaps the best and most accurate portrayal of Native Americans in any movie ever. They are shown neither as noble, politically correct, ecologically sound, wise heroes, nor as racist caricatures. They are shown as real people, and as individuals with their own personal concerns and opinions. There is no glossing over harsh living conditions, violence, brutality, torture, and superstition. But honor, loyalty, love, and closeness to nature are just as vividly present - as are doubt, deception, self-interest, and cruelty.
The French are likewise shown in a real, accurate and believable way. The narrow-mindedness of the Jesuits and their perverse desire for martyrdom are shown along with their deep sincerity and courage. Colonial attitudes and the overwhelming role of religion in 17th century culture are there, but the characters are never caricatures. Neither European nor Native American religions are denigrated, but both are shown to have their flaws as well as their values.
The role of solemn ceremony in both cultures is vividly shown in some of the opening scenes - an aspect of life which has almost disappeared in today's world. There is a feeling of vast distances, and slow, hard travel into the unknown which is likewise missing in our modern world of fast transportation and globalization. We get a sense of the smallness of human beings compared to the vast forests, mountains, and rivers of 17th century North America.
Highly recommended.
Movie Review: The Forgotten Art Of Trusting A Film To Truly TELL A Story
Summary: 5 Stars
Black Robe is a lush, incredibly deep, strikingly emotive motion picture, that tells the story of a young Jesuit priest's journey across the dense wilderness of seventeenth-century Quebec, undertaken while he simultaneously experiences a transformative test of his commitment to the stark way of life he has chosen. Which holds the greatest desire for him, a beckoning existence of ease and comfort amid relatives back in France; the possibility of earthly love; or service to God, that almost certainly includes a violent martyrdom?
Guided by his nation's Algonquin allies, the determined, idealistic young man of a privileged caste seeks to take up his assignment at a mission on the edge of "New France's" colonial frontier. As this decidedly quiet and cerebral epic unfolds, a journey of spiritual evolution takes this priest and his small band through numerous personal tests and into the face of many dangers, not merely from the unwelcoming savagery of the landscape itself, but from hostile aboriginals who welcome neither the Algonquians nor the European intruder into their homeland. What begins amid the opulence of Bourbon France becomes bluntly visceral with unsparing depictions of torture, bloodlust, rape, and death, and yet the way in which this tale is left to carry itself toward its most unforeseen climax is absolutely courageous.
There are too many noteworthy performances to list here, and any written description of the scenery within this film would fall flat. With its countless tiny moments that contrast cultures (Algonquians thinking the Frenchmen's' mechanical clock was somehow their king, since they lived by its motions) for the alternating bravery, sadism, devotions and loyalty of those characters within it, for its terrific story, and for its end to end flawless quality, I truly think Black Robe is among the greatest films shot in the 1990's, and might just be at the top of its particular genre.