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The Mission

The Mission

Adventure · Drama · Action · 1986

When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have built against the Portuguese aggressors.

Movie details

The Mission

“One will trust in the power of prayer. One will believe in the might of the sword.”

1986 Adventure · Drama · Action 2h 5m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have built against the Portuguese aggressors.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Mission?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Black Robe

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Missionary Father LaForgue travels to the New World in hopes of converting Algonquin Indians to Catholicism. Accepted, though warily, by the Indians, LaForgue travels with the Indians using his strict Catholic rules and ideals to try and impose his religion.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Roland Joffé

Written by

Robert Bolt

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Rodrigo Mendoza

Jeremy Irons

Jeremy Irons

Father Gabriel

Ray McAnally

Ray McAnally

Cardinal Altamirano

Aidan Quinn

Aidan Quinn

Felipe Mendoza

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson

Father John Fielding

Cherie Lunghi

Cherie Lunghi

Carlotta

Ronald Pickup

Ronald Pickup

Hontar

Court is in session

Put The Mission on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.