Just saw this one on DVD-good flick. It deals with a terrible period of history (1730’s Paraguay), in which the Portugues are given control of some formerly Spanish SA territory. unfortunately, the territory contains a Jesuit Mission, where the priests are caring for the natives. The Portuguese want the land, and want the indians 9to use as slaves). The Pope sends a cardinal to attempt to dissuade the jesuits from protecting their charges, but the priests refuse and attempt to defend the indians, from an invading portuguese army. it all ends when the portuguese brutally slaughter everyone. was this movie accurate? How did the RC Church deal with this horrible stain on itself?
It was historically accurate.
The Spanish and the Portuguese nearly came to blows in Europe over what part each of them would control of the great new continent to the west.
They went to the Pope - traditionally the arbiter of all matters spiritual and temporal - who divided up the continent for them. This left some Spanish enclaves in Portuguese territory and vice versa.
To complicate matters, within the Catholic church, some factions inclined to the Portguguese and some to the Spanish. The jesuits, for example, were traditionally aligned with Madrid, I believe, while the Benedictines went with Lisbon.
It was all complicated and internecine - but it did lead to circumstances like the one outlined in The Mission.
Just wanted to add that the soundtrack is breathtaking, I think it’s Ennio Morricone’s best work.
That’s what I came in to add as well. I love Yo-Yo Ma’s version of the theme.