Black Robe

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.

The early 1990s saw a number of brilliant movies released centered on Native American history -- Son of the Morning Star, Dances with Wolves, and this, Black Robe, released on the heels of Dances with Wolves and overshadowed by its splashier and more mainstream Hollywood cousin. Black Robe might be seen as the Eastern, pre-United States counterpart to DWW in its similar theme of the clash of cultures and how a white civilization-based worldview might be altered through contact with the indigenous culture encountered by its representatives. This movie is more nuanced and subtle, however, and is suffused with a sadness and tragic quality that is true to history while not sacrificing heroism, nobility, and emotional involvement.The script, based on the novel, is brought to life superbly and the Canadian locations lend authenticity to this story of early Jesuit missionaries in what was then New France -- how the priests ("Black Robes") changed Indian society and were in turn changed. Father LaForgue is an isolated figure in a strange, new world full of menace and unknown challenges. His Huron companions regard him as an inscrutable, possibly dangerous outsider. And both move in fear of their mutual enemies, the Iroquois. The tale of Father LaForgue's journey from the fringes of French settlement into the heart of Indian territory is a quest of sorts, one that presents constant peril. At the end lies the possibility of redemption -- but at a price. And for the Indians, their world is changed forever, one way or another.There are no stock characters here -- the priests are neither saints nor rabid fanatics, the Indians are neither noble savages nor demonic villains (altho' the Iroquois, hereditary enemies of the Hurons as they are, come close to the latter). People are portrayed realistically, as a mix of good and bad, motivated in turn by faith, fear, lust, greed, or selflessness. A carefully crafted film with excellent performances, graceful direction, and a lyrical, evocative score by the great Georges Delerue (one of his last soundtracks). Five stars!PS: New movie "The Silence" looks to owe a debt to this earlier exploration of a similar topic.

Loved the cinematography, incredible scenery. Attention to detail in the costumes and lifestyle of 17th century inhabitants of Canada.

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Il faut regretter qu'il n'y ait pas eu de parution d'un dvd zone 2 et encore moins de version en langue française (hormis les sous titres) depuis la date de sortie du film (1991),Toutefois, par maints aspects, ce film est exceptionnel et il est peu probable qu'un acheteur regrette de l'avoir acquis. Certes il y a toujours présentes la beauté magique des immensités canadiennes et l'omniprésence de la nature, mais c'est le traitement du sujet (la tentative de conversion des Hurons) qui fait que ce film est en tout point de grande valeur.On peut éventuellement malgré tout regretter l'image donnée du chamane qui peut paraître caricaturale.Isolé dans un milieu totalement étranger et devant l'adaptation des croyances des indiens à ce milieu, le missionnaire, incarné par l'acteur québécois Lothaire Bluteau, en vient à douter de sa mission même s'il se reprend ensuite. La dernière phrase du film, qui succède à la dernière scène, possède une valeur pédagogique indéniable et exemplaire.La conversion de tout peuple "indigène" par le prosélytisme outrancier des sbires aveugles des religions monothéistes est un crime envers ce peuple !

Aussie film director Bruce Beresford has made a couple of westerns during the course of his career. The first official Australian/Canadian co-production "Black Robe"(91), and then the entertaining made for TV movie "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself"(2003). I was impressed by the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Amazon for a film that I had not seen before, and was intrigued by the period setting on the Canadian frontier in 1634. Surely it had to be worth a watch, and it most certainly was. I will add another positive review to those already posted."Black Robe" has erroneously been compared with "Dances With Wolves", a film it bears no resemblance to. That film tended to look at the west through overly rose tinted spectacles, whilst this one focuses more on the naked savagery of an untamed wilderness. In that respect it has more in common with films like "A Man Called Horse" and "Man in the Wilderness". A Jesuit priest is sent to a remote Catholic mission in a Huron settlement to help in the conversion of these people to Christianity. The priest is accompanied by a young Frenchman and a group of Algonquin Indians. The group set off in canoes to penetrate deep into the Canadian wilds. Shot majestically on the Sanguenay River region, which substitutes beautifully for the St Lawrence River, the cinematography is very impressive indeed. It is not long before culture differences between Indians and Europeans begin to create difficulties, and mere survival becomes even more important than converting the natives.One has to admire those early missionaries to what were often unknown tribes in the early frontier days of white colonisation. They were often the pathfinders and many met martyrdom in their fervent efforts to spread the gospel. I recall that very moving opening scene from "The Mission" when a priest tied to a wooden cross is sent over a huge waterfall to his death by jungle tribesmen. Whilst they may have brought God to the wilderness, they also brought the white man's diseases like smallpox which wiped out whole tribes. They were also introduced to the dubious delights of alcohol. Even today evangelists work amongst indigenous peoples spreading the Christian word. Sometimes the natives of remote regions paid a high price for their new found faith. It is this big theme that Beresford explores in his film.The priest in the film follows in the footsteps of Christ when he is tested by the Devil in his own desert experience. Celibate he struggles with the open sexual practices of the Indians, but shows he is a man strong in faith, even if that means thrashing himself with a few branches. The script by Brian Moore taken from his own book is certainly not as in depth as "The Mission" which dealt with similar issues, but is sufficient given the more minimalist approach. The closing scene asks an important question about the nature of love, which is perhaps the key to the heart of this film and also gives cause for optimism in an otherwise rather bleak film. Whilst the film may not engage as pure entertainment, it is an impressive piece of movie making and an important new addition to my collection. Highly recommended.

Dvd rare et jamais édité en France. Enfin Un film réaliste, honnête et très bien documenté sur les premières évangélisations des peuples premiers au Canada.