Black Robe

Rating:
Summary: A Very Good, Haunting Film
Review: "Black Robe" is a movie that you think about the day after. It is gorgeous and gritty with its portrayal of early Canada.

The story is not partisan or "preachy", yet it shatters the modern romantic and PC depictions of the idyllic life of the native tribes before the evil white man appeared.

The scenery is stunning. The acting is superb. Dialogue? I don't remember any - the communication between characters is 90% accomplished by silent looks due to a rudimentary understanding of each other's native language. This too adds to the honest feel of the film.




Rating:
Summary: An antidote for the neo-romanticism of the AmerIndian
Review: "Black Robe" is based on a novel of the same title written by the late Brian Moore, who also wrote the film's screenplay. Moore's idea for the plot of his novel and most of the details he used within it came from the Jesuit Relations- a 17th century chronicle of the day to day events of the North American mission of the Society of Jesus. While the Relations' main purpose was to describe successful conversions, miracles, and battles fought against Satan, they are also one of the most important historical records of the lives and customs of many American Indian tribes.

The Jesuits presented a wonderful depiction of the people they were trying to convert. Some of the stories are very funny- one Algonquin hired by the Jesuits to be a translator was asked by his employers for the Algonquin words relating to spiritual and religious topics. The translator instructed them and the Jesuits rushed off to preach to the Algonquins. It was only upon being greeted by the peeling laughter of their would-be converts did the Jesuits realize that their translator had instead instructed them on Algonquin foul language.

However, the Relations also depict a very grim picture of life in the mid 17th century wilderness. Contrary to what another reviewer has written here- adoption was not guaranteed for anyone! Yes, mass adoption later become something the Iroquois practiced, but only after their numbers had been so badly dwindled in their wars of conquest in the 1650-1670's. Women, children, and the elderly could be hideously tortured to death as well as men. The movie, in fact, was edited to avoid showing the Indians practicing ritual cannibalism on that slain boy- a custom that was common among the tribes of Eastern woodlands. To devour an enemy's flesh was to devour his power. The heart of a particularly brave enemy (such as the Jesuit martyr St. Jean Brebeuf) would be eaten by chiefs.

Also in the 17th century, the gauntlet was not the only ordeal for a male prisoner captured alive. If captured a male prisoner would usually have his hands mutiliated in some way- finger joints cut off by either cutting (sometimes with sea shells as shown in the movie) or by biting. Why? A warrior without the use of his fingers was useless- could not pull a bowstring or grasp a knife.

One could say that the Jesuits were biased in their desire to portray the Indians as savages and thus justify their conversion. However, the Relations are reknowned for their candor and there are too many other sources that describe women and children captives being summarily executed for little or no reason. (The famed voyageur and explorer Pierre Esprit Radisson in his autobiography "Voyages" saw with his own eyes- children and women being tortured to death by the Mohawks.)

The Algonquin bands of hunter/gatherers, with whom the French Jesuits made first contact, lived a mean existence by any standard. Theirs was a society that was utterly "christian" in that they shared everything, but also one that could not tolerate those who fell sick or lame. These unfortunates would just be abandoned. Life was hard enough for those healthy and fit. Also, living in a birchbark tent with almost no ventilation for smoke, zero privacy, a bunch of dogs, and lots of unwashed bodies was probably a much, much nastier place than what was shown in the film. (The meanness of these living conditions must have have been very tough on many members of the Society of Jesus because a lot of them came from families of great wealth and privilege.)

"Black Robe," the novel and the film, were meant to be an antidote to the current romancization of the AmerIndians. In recent decades we've taken one myth about the AmerIndians, that of the blood thirsty savage, and replaced it with another, the new age Eagle scout with a bent for ecology. "Black Robe" attempts to hit a middle ground- showing these people as humans who lived in a culture that was governed by different values than our own. They are shown as intelligent and brave, but also as greedy and very cruel. That Europe was awash with blood at the same time is beside the point. Brian Moore was trying to show that North America was never a Garden of Eden- people here still treated people different from themselves very cruelly.

As mentioned above, Moore actually held back in the screenplay certain elements of Algonquin life that could be found in his novel. Their everyday language was peppered by words that we would call vulgar- but to them it them it was just talking. They allowed promiscuity among unmarried young men and women- a fact that was found very enticing by French laymen, but scandalized the priests.

I don't think this movie is some sort of "propaganda" to perpetuate negative stereotypes on AmerIndians. I do think it is an honest attempt to show that these people were human beings whose lives were governed by the harshness of their surroundings. For an Algonquin band of hunter/gatherers living along the St. Lawrence, life truly was a survival of the fittest. Brian Moore simply held up a picture of the cruelty and difficulty of this existence, if some neo-romanticists don't like what they see then so be it.

Rating:
Summary: An antidote for the neo-romanticism of the AmerIndian
Review: "Black Robe" is based on a novel of the same title written by the late Brian Moore, who also wrote the film's screenplay. Moore's idea for the plot of his novel and most of the details he used within it came from the Jesuit Relations- a 17th century chronicle of the day to day events of the North American mission of the Society of Jesus. While the Relations' main purpose was to describe successful conversions, miracles, and battles fought against Satan, they are also one of the most important historical records of the lives and customs of many American Indian tribes.

The Jesuits presented a wonderful depiction of the people they were trying to convert. Some of the stories are very funny- one Algonquin hired by the Jesuits to be a translator was asked by his employers for the Algonquin words relating to spiritual and religious topics. The translator instructed them and the Jesuits rushed off to preach to the Algonquins. It was only upon being greeted by the peeling laughter of their would-be converts did the Jesuits realize that their translator had instead instructed them on Algonquin foul language.

However, the Relations also depict a very grim picture of life in the mid 17th century wilderness. Contrary to what another reviewer has written here- adoption was not guaranteed for anyone! Yes, mass adoption later become something the Iroquois practiced, but only after their numbers had been so badly dwindled in their wars of conquest in the 1650-1670's. Women, children, and the elderly could be hideously tortured to death as well as men. The movie, in fact, was edited to avoid showing the Indians practicing ritual cannibalism on that slain boy- a custom that was common among the tribes of Eastern woodlands. To devour an enemy's flesh was to devour his power. The heart of a particularly brave enemy (such as the Jesuit martyr St. Jean Brebeuf) would be eaten by chiefs.

Also in the 17th century, the gauntlet was not the only ordeal for a male prisoner captured alive. If captured a male prisoner would usually have his hands mutiliated in some way- finger joints cut off by either cutting (sometimes with sea shells as shown in the movie) or by biting. Why? A warrior without the use of his fingers was useless- could not pull a bowstring or grasp a knife.

One could say that the Jesuits were biased in their desire to portray the Indians as savages and thus justify their conversion. However, the Relations are reknowned for their candor and there are too many other sources that describe women and children captives being summarily executed for little or no reason. (The famed voyageur and explorer Pierre Esprit Radisson in his autobiography "Voyages" saw with his own eyes- children and women being tortured to death by the Mohawks.)

The Algonquin bands of hunter/gatherers, with whom the French Jesuits made first contact, lived a mean existence by any standard. Theirs was a society that was utterly "christian" in that they shared everything, but also one that could not tolerate those who fell sick or lame. These unfortunates would just be abandoned. Life was hard enough for those healthy and fit. Also, living in a birchbark tent with almost no ventilation for smoke, zero privacy, a bunch of dogs, and lots of unwashed bodies was probably a much, much nastier place than what was shown in the film. (The meanness of these living conditions must have have been very tough on many members of the Society of Jesus because a lot of them came from families of great wealth and privilege.)

"Black Robe," the novel and the film, were meant to be an antidote to the current romancization of the AmerIndians. In recent decades we've taken one myth about the AmerIndians, that of the blood thirsty savage, and replaced it with another, the new age Eagle scout with a bent for ecology. "Black Robe" attempts to hit a middle ground- showing these people as humans who lived in a culture that was governed by different values than our own. They are shown as intelligent and brave, but also as greedy and very cruel. That Europe was awash with blood at the same time is beside the point. Brian Moore was trying to show that North America was never a Garden of Eden- people here still treated people different from themselves very cruelly.

As mentioned above, Moore actually held back in the screenplay certain elements of Algonquin life that could be found in his novel. Their everyday language was peppered by words that we would call vulgar- but to them it them it was just talking. They allowed promiscuity among unmarried young men and women- a fact that was found very enticing by French laymen, but scandalized the priests.

I don't think this movie is some sort of "propaganda" to perpetuate negative stereotypes on AmerIndians. I do think it is an honest attempt to show that these people were human beings whose lives were governed by the harshness of their surroundings. For an Algonquin band of hunter/gatherers living along the St. Lawrence, life truly was a survival of the fittest. Brian Moore simply held up a picture of the cruelty and difficulty of this existence, if some neo-romanticists don't like what they see then so be it.

Rating:
Summary: The Black Robe
Review: A magnificent, stunningly photograhed movie. No
movie conveys through its cinematography as well
the starkly beautiful yet brutal and inhospitable winter
landscape of the greatlakes region which confronted
French and English explorers and settlers in the eighteenth
century. The plight of the young French priest who vainly
attempts to install a foreign religion and philosophy among
the unwilling native tribes is heartbreaking.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent photography, music, and story; great on DVD...
Review: A true work of art in so many ways, this film provides insightful contrasts between well-intentioned religious ideology, Indian culture, and human nature. I enjoyed Black Robe each of the many times I've watched it, and like great art and music, was rewarded on every occasion by subtle details and imagery.

Rating:
Summary: A demanding story of courage, dedication, and faith.
Review: A young French priest (Lothaire Bluteau) travels into the frozen Northwest wilderness of New France (169?) to serve as missionary to the Hurons. He sees the brutal life lived by natives--war, hunger, sickness--against the massive backdrop of a beautiful but indifferent, dangerous natural world. As he grows to respect his Indian guide, Chomina (August Schellenburg), he tests the limits of his own faith and discovers his love for the people to whom his mission may in the end be irrelevant. A stark and occasionally violent film that rewards re-viewing.

Rating:
Summary: Black Robe Sets Things Straight
Review: After watching and rewatching "Black Robe," I could not believe this film was more favorably received. Critics seem to have liked it. I never saw it released in Chicago or San Diego. How could such a masterpiece be buried? Bruce Beresford is an excellent director. Oddly enough "Driving Miss Daisy," the film most have seen and won a few Academy Awards pales in comparission to his previous films like "Breaker Morant," possibly the best courtroom drama ever made. Then Beresford brings out "Black Robe," a movie that takes a totally fresh vison of the American Indian. The acting is flawless. The French and the Indians, thrown togther, literally perceive different worlds and religions. The late Brian Moore, the author of the novel, wrote the screenplay, and he spares us very little of the harsh world view, the harrowing survival in the wilderness, the myth of the "Noble Savage," the realization of just how hard it was to make a colony foothold in the New World. You get the feeling, after watching this film, that there was no foothold, that the wilderness wins, and no religion or superstition can prevail under such conditions. Man, whether French colonist or Indian, when confronted with such hardships, rarely conquers the land. And what a glorious picture of Native Americans. Never has a movie given such a vivid, balanced picture of Indian life and attitudes. It is all about ambiguity. Good Redman? Bad Redman? We see examples of kindness and brutality on both sides. Few films can create and transport one into an entire new world and this is what Beresford has accomplished. In the wake of the so-called "realistic" portrayal of the Native Americans in "Dances With Wolves," "Black Robe" jumps light years ahead. "Black Robe" leaves most movie Indian portraits in its wake. How Beresford did this is a mystery. He avoids almost all cliches from previous movies and we see, brilliantly, his vision, a stark, brutal vision of what it was like to be alive in the 17th century wilderness. And what a beautiful wilderness, and as the winter sets in, one can feel the chill in the bones. The tent scenes are incredible, mixing humor, sex, and bewilderment on the part of the priest, who at first thinks he is in complete control and will save these "savages." In the end of this great movie, the young priest seems to have been converted partly to the superstitions that he previously condemned. His fearfully walks in the snow and ice, showing the landscape in a different light. Is nature really cruel? Or is it just man's perceptions? Is this where faith comes in, to face such hardships? That Berseford can squeeze questions such as these into an unflinching adventure flim is a triumph of a master film maker. Many moviegoers want to escape to an ideal world, with happy endings. "Black Robe," although not ending happily, presents us with a greater truth, a truth that will make us stronger for experiencing the vision unfolding before us. "Black Robe is one of the greatest historical dramas ever filmed.

Rating:
Summary: Black Robe Sets Things Straight
Review: After watching and rewatching "Black Robe," I could not believe this film was more favorably received. Critics seem to have liked it. I never saw it released in Chicago or San Diego. How could such a masterpiece be buried? Bruce Beresford is an excellent director. Oddly enough "Driving Miss Daisy," the film most have seen and won a few Academy Awards pales in comparission to his previous films like "Breaker Morant," possibly the best courtroom drama ever made. Then Beresford brings out "Black Robe," a movie that takes a totally fresh vison of the American Indian. The acting is flawless. The French and the Indians, thrown togther, literally perceive different worlds and religions. The late Brian Moore, the author of the novel, wrote the screenplay, and he spares us very little of the harsh world view, the harrowing survival in the wilderness, the myth of the "Noble Savage," the realization of just how hard it was to make a colony foothold in the New World. You get the feeling, after watching this film, that there was no foothold, that the wilderness wins, and no religion or superstition can prevail under such conditions. Man, whether French colonist or Indian, when confronted with such hardships, rarely conquers the land. And what a glorious picture of Native Americans. Never has a movie given such a vivid, balanced picture of Indian life and attitudes. It is all about ambiguity. Good Redman? Bad Redman? We see examples of kindness and brutality on both sides. Few films can create and transport one into an entire new world and this is what Beresford has accomplished. In the wake of the so-called "realistic" portrayal of the Native Americans in "Dances With Wolves," "Black Robe" jumps light years ahead. "Black Robe" leaves most movie Indian portraits in its wake. How Beresford did this is a mystery. He avoids almost all cliches from previous movies and we see, brilliantly, his vision, a stark, brutal vision of what it was like to be alive in the 17th century wilderness. And what a beautiful wilderness, and as the winter sets in, one can feel the chill in the bones. The tent scenes are incredible, mixing humor, sex, and bewilderment on the part of the priest, who at first thinks he is in complete control and will save these "savages." In the end of this great movie, the young priest seems to have been converted partly to the superstitions that he previously condemned. His fearfully walks in the snow and ice, showing the landscape in a different light. Is nature really cruel? Or is it just man's perceptions? Is this where faith comes in, to face such hardships? That Berseford can squeeze questions such as these into an unflinching adventure flim is a triumph of a master film maker. Many moviegoers want to escape to an ideal world, with happy endings. "Black Robe," although not ending happily, presents us with a greater truth, a truth that will make us stronger for experiencing the vision unfolding before us. "Black Robe is one of the greatest historical dramas ever filmed.

Rating:
Summary: This is the one that should have won "best picture"
Review: An outstanding look at what happens when cultures collide. "Black Robe" tells the story of a 17th century French Jesuit missionary sent to the Canadian wilds to proselytize among the Huron Indians. Unfolding artfully and slowly, the film explores both the questionning of and committment to his faith encountered by the priest as he gets to know his Indian guides, their culture, and their spiritual beliefs. In the film, the priest's character is juxtaposed to his young apprentice who falls in love with the daughter of their Algonquin guide and comes to a deep understanding and appreciation of their culture. Far from romanticizing and idealizing it's Native American characters, however, "Black Robe" presents them fully as rich, varied, multi-faceted individuals capable of pettiness, wisdom, loyalty, kindness, atrocity, humor, close-mindedness, and love. Likewise, the priest retains his committment to Roman Catholicism and his confusion over Native American spiritual beliefs, while coming to a profound love and respect for the individuals and the tribes he has come to serve. It is a truly remarkable film, magnificently photographed, with rich, memorable characters. It speaks clearly about the conflicting values and world views held by these two cultures without denegrating or idealizing either one. There is violence and sexual situations -- similar to what you might expect in "Braveheart." A great film!

Rating:
Summary: This is the one that should have won "best picture"
Review: An outstanding look at what happens when cultures collide. "Black Robe" tells the story of a 17th century French Jesuit missionary sent to the Canadian wilds to proselytize among the Huron Indians. Unfolding artfully and slowly, the film explores both the questionning of and committment to his faith encountered by the priest as he gets to know his Indian guides, their culture, and their spiritual beliefs. In the film, the priest's character is juxtaposed to his young apprentice who falls in love with the daughter of their Algonquin guide and comes to a deep understanding and appreciation of their culture. Far from romanticizing and idealizing it's Native American characters, however, "Black Robe" presents them fully as rich, varied, multi-faceted individuals capable of pettiness, wisdom, loyalty, kindness, atrocity, humor, close-mindedness, and love. Likewise, the priest retains his committment to Roman Catholicism and his confusion over Native American spiritual beliefs, while coming to a profound love and respect for the individuals and the tribes he has come to serve. It is a truly remarkable film, magnificently photographed, with rich, memorable characters. It speaks clearly about the conflicting values and world views held by these two cultures without denegrating or idealizing either one. There is violence and sexual situations -- similar to what you might expect in "Braveheart." A great film!