The Mission (1986)

A Beautiful story of sin, redemption and compromise in 18th Century South America. Jesuit missionaries sincerely sought to bring Christianity to the native peoples, but their work was compromised by a political situation involving Spain, Portugal, and the Church, one that sapped official Catholicism's moral leadership in regards to the rights, and very lives of the American Indians. Strong cast, memorable score and beautiful location footage. Director Joffe concisely evokes Vietnam and his earlier The Killing Fields in scenes of native slaughter. Grade: B+