The Mission

I had never heard of “The Mission” (1986) before this class. Robert De Niro really brought it with this movie. His character went through so many changes. In the beginning he was a jealous brother who ends up killing his brother, then he is a emotionless wreck who doesn't think he is worth anything, then he climbs a mountain with hundreds of pounds tied to his back to pay for his sins, then he becomes a priest who still fights within himself and as well as those who are in charge of him, then he become a warrior for God. There were so many turns in his characters’ story and that was really interesting to watch.

The other issue that I saw was the fight over right and right. There are always different points of view to every issue and this movie plays with that perspective. Both sides to this movie were fighting in the name of God, and for what they thought was his will. Even within both sides there were different opinions. On Robert De Niro's side, his friend didn't want to fight but in everything be peaceful and never use violence, while De Niro wanted to physically fight off those who opposed him. On the other side there was a large army led by politicians and religious leaders, who bickered and fought over whether or not to use violence or to just let it be. In the midst of battle, some in the army were hesitant to fight because of their own personal feelings. Then the leaders of said army, who felt like they were doing the right thing because of the law.

It's all about perception. There are always at least two sides to an argument. Sometimes both sides are fighting in the name of God and in the end they both think God failed them. This is what happens when people put God's name on their actions. No one wins. It can be argued for both sides that they were in the right. That those who fought against the mission and eventually killed hundreds of civilians, priests, women and children, were in the right. It can also be argued that those who fought against the established government to protect their home and what they felt was sacred, were also in the right. 

So who wins in this type of predicament? Does anybody win? What kind of lesson can we take from this type of story? Is it really worth fighting for something if you know you will die for it? Is it worth fighting for something you don’t believe in? The end of the movie doesn’t explain a thing anyway. It keeps it open for discussion. I think that is this movies greatest accomplishment. Everyone who walks out after seeing this movie will immediately begin to discuss what side they thought was rightfully in the guidance of God. If any side for that matter. The personal struggle one has to go through to forgive themselves for killing a brother was shown throughout this film with Robert De Niro’s character. How many brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers were killed during that last battle? How many people seemed repentant after that? What this movie does is raise more questions than answers. What side does God choose?