Black Robe (1991) User Reviews

Significantly softened

[Varlaam · 8/10 · 18 December 1998]

This film made major concessions to political correctness in its portrayal of the Indians, who are depicted in a considerably more flattering light here than they are in Brian Moore's novel. This could also be considered the romanticizing "Dances With Wolves" effect. The novel drew some (unjust) criticism here in Canada for its uncompromising approach.

The actual history is fairly readily available. "The Jesuits in North America in the 17th Century" by the great American historian Francis Parkman is the standard 19th c. work on the proselytizing efforts of the French Récollet and Jesuit fathers.

Still, if you are not very familiar with the subject, this film is a strong, and quite gruesome, introduction. I'm not aware of a lot of films about the colonial period which are as tough. Not "Last of the Mohicans", or the adult westerns from the '50's, in my opinion. "Little Big Man", perhaps. Or possibly "A Man Called Horse", which I haven't seen. The priest in the story is a composite of actual missionaries, and the impact of this historical adventure thriller is heightened for me knowing that everything in this film happened, and often a whole lot worse.

The rights and wrongs, the pros and cons, of the cultural collision of Europeans with the autochthonous peoples are still too contentious, so I would rather not get into them. There is a lot here to brood about afterwards, and chances are good that you'll seek out a copy of the novel -- it's not very long, and a lot easier to read than James Fenimore Cooper. If you're American or Canadian, this is an important part of our shared past.

"Black Robe" is one of the very best Canadian feature films, with a solid cast led by Lothaire Bluteau with August Schellenberg and Tantoo Cardinal in support. The presence of an Australian director, Bruce Beresford, perhaps kept the film from turning into a well-meaning but dry Canadian history lesson.

Good clash of cultures movie

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 10 September 2014]

It's 1634 Quebec. LaForgue (Lothaire Bluteau) is a Jesuit which the natives call Black Robe. He and young Daniel (Aden Young) are sent on a dangerous journey by Champlain to the distant mission with the Hurons. They are guided by a group of Algonquin Indians led by Chomina (August Schellenberg). Daniel falls for Chomina's daughter Annuka (Sandrine Holt). Simple things like a clock and writing seems to be magic for the natives and they suspect Black Robe is a demon.

There is great realism in this movie. The characters are human and complex. There is confusion and lots of misunderstandings. It's a no nonsense take on the grim early interactions. Both sides are doing what they perceive to be right but the clash of cultures is too much. The acting is superb especially from August Schellenberg. The locations are grand and they have a brooding danger about them. The wilderness takes the movie and never lets it go.

Courage of a different sort

[jrpeet · 7/10 · 25 January 2001]

As a retired Christian minister, I have perhaps a different view of the movie than some of the other reviewers.

I felt that Laforgue,the Jesuit Priest, showed amazing courage to undertake his mission under the most difficult of circumstances.

Director Bruce Beresford has addressed the issues of clashing cultures in several of his other films: Driving Miss Daisy, Mr. Johnson for example. And he presents the complexities of culture anew in this film.

I was struck by the absolute beauty of Québec and the film's cinematography.

Back to Laforgue for a moment: here is a protagonist that accomplishes his mission with wisdom, intellegence, prayer, dependence upon his faith, lack of violence, and persverance.

Magnificent!

[eunicem · 20 August 2000]

I don't know why it took me so long to see this film, as I had heard of it many times. I think that I was put off by films like "The Last of the Mohicans", which I found dreary. There is no comparison with the oft-mentioned "Dances With Wolves". This film is an outstanding and riveting piece of work. Why others seem to have found it slow or heavy going is beyond me. When I reached the end (far too quickly) I just wanted to sit through it over again.

Having lived in Canada for some years, I could only marvel at the early colonizers who explored and settled Canada, a vast wilderness with a long, hard, bitterly cold winter - and I never went further north than Toronto! Whether or not one agrees with their reasons for going, whether it be trading, grabbing land or the salvation of the native population, the thought of being completely alone in the bitterly cold wilderness does command respect for their courage.

The film is set in 1634, a time when France was a cesspool of venality, corruption, intrigue and religious fanaticism, and when the pilgrims had been in Massachusetts for less than 10 years. The French Revolution was 150 years away. Life was hard for the settlers, who were on their own, without the survival kills evolved over thousands of years by the native population, whose life seemed brutally harsh but was a necessary adaptation to the land in which they lived. Early in the film the Algonquin chief tells his daughter than she cannot marry the Frenchman who she had fallen for, as he was a fool and did not know how to provide for her. That was the key. If a man could not provide for his family he could not take a wife. Anyone who became sick or injured must be left behind to take their chances, otherwise they would endanger the survival of the group. I think that this film makes that very clear. As the little group makes their way through Iriquois territory they are attacked by the Iriquois who plan to torture and sacrifice them, not apparently out of malice or wanton cruelty, but to please their God. (We had already seen the Jesuit priest flagellating himself for having impure thoughts).

The films deals at length with the misunderstanding of each other's religion and way of life, which causes us to question our own - just why do we do that? Why do the Iriquois fight the Algonquin, and the Huron when there is land to spare for all of them? Why did the French and English use the native people to fight their wars? The Indians cannot understand the Jesuit concept of paradise, sitting on a cloud all day with no tobacco, and no sex, but if accepting baptism helps them recover from a sickness , they will compromise. One gets the feeling that if the Jesuits moved out and another sect moved in, the Indians would convert to the new faith if it suited their purpose.

The scenery, as the party begins its long trek to the Huron mission is breathtaking. What they find when they reach the mission is not surprising, but once again, one has a feeling of admiration for the stoicism and faith of the Jesuit priests who knew that they were going to the ends of the earth and would likely never see their families again. To someone who buys all their food at the supermarket, or from the take out window, the thought of the self sufficiency of these people who live entirely on what they can catch or forage is quite mind boggling. Already the Indians are becoming dependent on the white man's goods. The trading post will not be long in coming. The Husdons Bay Company was set up by Royal charter about 30 years later.

I would recommend this film to anyone who likes a beautiful, thought provoking film.

Accurate, I think

[August1991 · 7/10 · 3 October 2003]

While living abroad several years ago, I bought this DVD to watch and to remind myself of Canada. I have travelled to all of the places depicted, sometimes by canoe. The film wanders inaccurately to locales in the wrong direction and as a historian at Ste-Marie among the Hurons (in Midland, Ontario) once explained to me, 'Black Robe' is at best an imprecise amalgam of the trips of different people over different years. Does this matter?

I have shown 'Black Robe' to foreigners abroad but in my experience, something goes missing in the translation. The film seems too simple, too boring or too brutal. But to foreigners who visit Canada and see the space and the distance (rocks and trees!), the film presents a dimension of the country, in fact the continent, that is hard to fathom otherwise. 'Black Robe' is an honest attempt, accurate I think, to portray the initial meeting of two civilizations in a place without people. It is much more accurate, in my opinion, than 'Dances With Wolves' or even 'The Mission'. My advice? If you are not American, watch this film either before or after a trip to the wilds of North America. If you're a prof, show this film to students but lead a discussion before and after with care.

Lastly, two scenes I liked in particular: 1) Lothaire Bluteau forlornly taking a crap off the side of a canoe (very tough to do) and 2) the comparison of the spires of trees and the spires of church columns. We all should feel small, and the quietude, abandoned in a North American forest, or a European cathedral.

Beautifully Filmed, Memorably Told

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 29 May 2006]

Wow, what a fascinating movie and different kind of film. One really can't get the full impact of this through a review. Anyone who has seen this, I think would agree with me on that.

If I had skipped over the credits and someone had told me Terrence Malick (Days Of Heaven, The New World, The Thin Red Line and Badlands) and directed this film, I would have believed it. Visually, this is his kind of film. I wonder if this movie inspired parts of his latest effort, The New World? There are a number of similarities. Black Robe has the same kind of beautiful and haunting images Malick's films possess but the director in this case is Bruce Bereford, the man who directed Driving Miss Daisy a couple of years before doing this film. DMD also is beautifully-filmed.

Black Robe is not just a piece of art. As great as it is visually, this is a powerful story of a well-intentioned Jesuit priest in the early 17th century who travels to "New France" (upstate New York/French Canadian territory) attempting to convert a few area tribes to Christianity. To unbelievers, that seems pushy but Biblically-speaking it is not. Jesus commanded his followers to do just that (Matt. 28:18-20) , so the priest is only doing what missionaries have done for centuries. He also is a good man, stays strong in his beliefs regardless of his own well-being and is a gentle soul. Kudos to the filmmakers for being fair to him.

The Algonquins and the Hurons are also shown with their beliefs, too, and their cultures which obviously were in contrast to the white European-based priest. All sides are shown fairly in this movie, with both positive and negative traits of all.

I was shocked at a few scenes in here, not expecting them as the film has such a gentle flow to it before anything dramatic happens. We see a few sexual scenes and then some brutal violence. The Hurons, particularly, do not want any invasion of their privacy and culture and are openly hostile to the priest and the Algonquins. The story transforms from a quiet Malick-type "New World" poetic piece to a violent, suspenseful film and the question is, will the "good guys" make it out alive?

The actors in here, perhaps, are not names most people outside Canada are familiar with, including me, but Lothaire Blueteau as Father Laforgue, Aden Young as his assistant "Daniel" and Sandrine Holt as Daniel's Algonguin lover "Anuuka" are all very, very good. All the characters in this film are very credible people, steadfast in their own beliefs and they come across as realistic people. Most films have unreal people with unrealistic dialog....but not in this movie.

Another big plus was the soundtrack: a lush, haunting score throughout.

Without spoiling the ending, or adding political/theological agendas my own, let me just add that if you enjoy a beautiful-looking movie which also has a thoughtful, haunting story with honest characters, you should check this out. Highly recommended.

Superbly Photographed w/ Minimalist Story

[pc95 · 7/10 · 17 March 2013]

Preceding "Last of the Mohicans" but following "Dances with Wolves", Bruce Beresford's "Black Robe" seems to strike a neutral ground toward depicting Brian Moore's screenplay of a Jesuit on Mission bringing the Christian Faith to Huron Indians. Although I have not read the novel, the movie's cinematography, costuming, and settings are first rate to be sure. Vast landscapes of water, forests, trees, woodlands, and ice are on full display out in obvious location - there aren't too many sets. The story interestingly compares the supposed righteousness of one religion over another through dialog of characters though none seem to accept or appreciate the others religion, neither Indian nor Missionary. The acting was satisfactory, while the story is somewhat minimalist. Indeed the settings command the picture, and the movie is a worthy of watch because of them alone.

Amazing

[MarioB · 9/10 · 29 July 1999]

I'm a history student of second grade of a french canadian university. So, in a history point of view, I can assure you that this movie is simply amazing. The story is about a jesuite priest who wants to bring catholic faith to the Indians of the french colony Nouvelle-France (New France, the future Quebec of Canada) in the seventeen century. In fact, there was a lot of jesuite doing that by that time. The priest and his young translator ask the Algonquins natives to guide them to the Hurons natives. That is also exactly correct! But in their quest,they had some problems with the Iroquois natives. And that is exactly right! At the end, the priest reach the Hurons. The chief of the tribe tells that if they accept the god of the priest, they will become weak and their ennemies will kill them. And that's what's gonna happen! In fact, the Hurons were the first Indians of New France to accept catholic religion. I saw the movie with the french dubbing. The Indians of that time didn't knew how to prononce R. So, in the movie, they say : obe noie, instead of Robe Noire (Black Robe). I don't know if they said black obe in the English version. In one scence, the priest tells the Indian sorcerer that he is reading a breviaire (book of prayers). And the sorcerer said: beviaire, witout the R. The way the natives are dressed and wears their hairs is also very exact in an historical view. This is not only a great movie, but an amazing reconstitution. Natives actors are great, with August Schlleberg, the always good Tantoo Cardinal and the charming young Sandrine Holt. Lothaire Blutheau is one of the best french canadian actor (see him in Jesus of Montreal). This is absolutely a superb piece of work ! And some kind of perfect history book.

"The Mission" redone.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 7/10 · 26 May 2012]

Perhaps you could say that this movie suffers from the fact that the movie "The Mission" got released 5 years earlier. Both movies feature a similar concept, with as a big difference that "The Mission" had more star-power behind it. But is it better or worse than "The Mission"? In my opinion there isn't all that much difference, though "The Mission" still remains a slightly better movie due to all of its professionalism involved.

I'm of course not saying that this movie isn't a professional one. It really is a very well made movie, that is good looking and told in a good and intriguing. I just have to say that religion isn't exactly my cup of tea, so the main subjects of the movie just didn't really appeal to me, though the movie still worked out as something interesting enough for me.

Thing that makes this movie interesting is its cultural clash, between the and the Jesuit priests and the Canadian Indians. Sometimes their difference lead to something good and they start learning from each other but mostly it leads to something ugly and violent. The movie does hold back a bit though at times, no doubt because otherwise the Indian community would had felt angered and offended by the way they got depicted in this movie. It doesn't make the whole movie experience any less interesting or good to watch though.

It basically is being a respectful movie to both sides, by showing everything from the two opposite sides. It helps to create an understanding for both of the sides as well, which makes you condemn no one either. You can understand both sides and all of their motivations and actions, whether you agree with them or not.

It was interesting to see this movie taking place in Canada, instead of America or somewhere in the Rainforest. Canada has a totally different feeling and look to it, which works out as something refreshing and also beautiful to look at. The natural environments are all great looking and get beautifully brought to the screen by director Bruce Beresford and cinematographer Peter James.

Another things that adds to the atmosphere of the movie is the musical score by Georges Delerue, that works out as something haunting and beautiful for the movie.

It really is a quite intriguing movie to watch, even when you really aren't into its subject.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

One of the Finest Portrayals of American Indians in the Movies

[michael_the_nermal · 9/10 · 9 July 2006]

This film is brilliant, because it defies conventional stereotypes of European settlers and American Indians. This movie strives and succeeds in its portrayal of Indians and whites as human beings, rather than as villains or saints. Those who feel this movie would show the Indians as noble savages will be gravelly disappointed. The Indians in "Black Robe" can be cruel, and have sexual mores that would disgust the more prudish viewers. The affect of the Jesuit missionaries among the Indians of Quebec is not romanticized or glossed over, nor are the Jesuits shown as evil white devils. All humans in this movie have their flaws and weaknesses and all act "morally" according to their own cultures' expectations. Beresford has crafted a marvelous film that ought to be required viewing in college history courses across the country.

The cinematography is beautiful, whether we are watching the gilded altars of the cathedrals of Renaissance France, the iridescent glow of a fire at an Indian village, the cramped quarters of an Indian longhouse, or the awesome and heavenly magnificence of the Canadian woodlands and what appears to be the St. Lawrance River. This movie does feature explicit sexual acts and gruesome violence, so I would not recommend this movie at all for very young children. I think most teenagers can handle this film. I suppose this film is very hard to find at your local video rental store, but do yourselves a favor and find it. Your efforts will be amply rewarded.

A Stunning Movie With A Fair Portrayal Of Both Native And Jesuit Culture In 17th Century New France

[sddavis63 · 7/10 · 23 July 2011]

"Black Robe" is a beautifully filmed, sensitive and in the end emotionally moving film depicting the work of French Jesuit missionaries in New France in the 17th century and their interactions with the natives (particularly the Hurons) of the region. The real power of the movie comes from the authenticity with which both the Jesuits and the natives are portrayed. Too often we get caricatures from Hollywood. Missionaries and natives are either romanticized or demonized. But this isn't a big-budget Hollywood production. It's a Canadian-Australian film that presents a pretty balanced view of both groups. Neither are innocent: the Jesuits perhaps a bit too rabid in their determination to challenge what they perceive as the "savage" native culture, the natives perhaps a bit too cruel in their response to the Jesuits - but such is culture of any kind. All societies have their good and bad features. Overall, the good outweighed the bad for both cultures in this movie. The natives are depicted as having a rich culture and spirituality of their own; the Jesuits are depicted as having a true and sincere "love" for the natives and truly believe that they are offering them "paradise" by sharing their religious faith with them. The natives are shown quite appropriately as having mixed reactions to their European "visitors." They're intrigued by them and yet also recognize the dangers that European incursion pose for their culture. The Jesuits have an equally mixed reaction to the natives: appalled by what they perceive (by European standards) as some of the less civilized aspects of the culture, but also recognizing them as people loved by God and therefore deserving of love from them. I thought the story did a great job of balancing all of these different perspectives.

Also a highlight here was a superb performance by Lothaire Bluteau as Father Laforge - the Jesuit priest whose missionary journey we follow after he's dispatched from Quebec by Champlain and heads for the inland Huron mission. Bluteau seemed to capture the character perfectly - both his hesitancy about the natives and his very sincere love for them. In fact, I found a scene near the end of the movie to be extremely moving, as a group of sick Hurons approach Bluteau at the mission and ask to be baptized. As Bluteau seems to hesitate (he's previously suggested that the natives shouldn't be baptized without a firm understanding of the faith) the leader of the group asks "do you love us." As Bluteau looks over the desperate people in front of him and remembers some of those he's encountered in the past he's finally moved to respond simply "yes" and the baptism proceeds. Too often the portrayal of European colonization of America portrays only the greed and self-interest of the Europeans. That's undoubtedly true in so many ways and demonstrated by so much tragedy for North American natives, but one should recognize that, especially in New France, the early Jesuit missionaries were in fact motivated by a sincere love for the natives. It may be hard to understand from a 21st century perspective, but offering Christ and the Gospel to the natives in that context was done out of love. Religion is so often offered in caricatures and portrayed in a negative or comic light today that to see it portrayed in a noble and loving way may grate on some viewers who can't understand that. But this movie, I thought, was a wonderful and realistic portrayal of the Jesuit motivation of the era, and a fair portrayal of native culture and response to the Jesuits.

Strengthened by some stunning scenery which offered a very authentic feel to the "New France" being depicted, this is a very strong movie. If one can't imagine a movie featuring natives to be anything but bloodthirsty savages or missionaries being anything but greedy exploiters then the reaction to this will be negative. But anyone interested in a realistic and thoughtful presentation of the era and cultures and motivations depicted will find this well worth watching. (7/10)

North America was never a Garden of Eden

[Wuchakk · 9/10 · 9 May 2012]

Released in 1991 and based on Brian Moore's researched novel, "Black Robe" relays the story of a young Jesuit priest in 1634 visiting the French settlement that later became Quebec City. Father LaForgue is assigned to a distant Huron mission accompanied by a young quasi-believing assistant and a family of Algonquin Indians. The group faces challenges beyond the harsh realities of the river trek itself, including an attack by hostile Iroquois. Of course the Indians question the "strange ways" of the priest and his dark attire and wonder whether he is a demon. Instead of addressing him as "Father" they simply call him "Black Robe."

I've viewed "Black Robe" three times now and it never fails to capture my attention from beginning to end (the film runs 101 minutes), which is why I don't get the criticism that it's somehow unabsorbing. What strikes me most is the raw realism. Viewing "Black Robe" is the next best thing to going back in time and viewing the events firsthand.

Other highlights include: Lothaire Bluteau's solid performance as the missionary priest; LaForgue's assistant, well played by Aden Young, and his developing love for the daughter of the Algonquin leader, played by the beautiful Sandrine Holt; the Algonquins themselves, particular the patriarch; the freaky midget shaman of a band of Montagnais natives; the harrowing events at an Iroquois fort; the subtext on the truth or falsity of spiritual beliefs, both of the Jesuits and the Indians; and the spectacular cinematography of the Quebec wilderness (mostly the Saint Lawrence River, filmed on location). The film successfully shows the desolate, untamed nature of the NE before the mass encroachment of Europeans.

Some may wonder: How does it compare to "Last of the Mohicans" or "Dances with Wolves," two contemporary films also featuring realistic portrayals of AmerIndians? Of the two, "Black Robe" is closer to "Last of the Mohicans" since the story takes place in the East and there aren't any cowboys & Indians, although the story takes place well over a century earlier. The film differs from both in that there aren't really any Hollywood contrivances, including conventional movie plotting. As great and generally believable as those other films are, "Black Robe" shows the harsher, bleaker reality, which some may translate as boring.

However, as raw and realistic as "Black Robe" is, it could've been more so, considering that it fails to show one disturbing reality of Eastern AmerIndian culture, as detailed in Moore's book (pointed out by another reviewer): The film avoids depicting the native practice of ritual cannibalism on a dead infant, a custom that was common among the tribes of the Eastern woodlands. To consume an enemy's flesh was to absorb his power. The heart of an especially courageous foe (such as Jesuit martyr St. Jean Brebeuf) would be eaten by tribal leaders. But, don't get me wrong here, I'm kind of glad the movie left this aspect out.

"Black Robe" has the same vibe as 2007's "Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan," so if you appreciate that style of raw-realism you'll likely value "Black Robe." Needless to say, if you have ADHD or require constant explosions to maintain your attention, stay far away.

GRADE: A

Not For the Weak of Heart

[beorhouse · 7/10 · 12 October 2017]

For a film about Christian missionaries, this one verges on Horror. Not for the weak of heart--or stomach. One glaring mistake was a veneration of St. Joan of Arc. This film was set in the early 17th century. St. Joan wasn't canonized (through the efforts of Therese of Lisieux later sainted herself, among others) until 1920. There are some theological problems, but they have nothing to do with the film itself and everything to do with the way Roman Catholics chose to present the good news of eternal life and how they chose to describe the afterlife--or their lack of description based on ignorance. Too, when you are baptizing someone who is dying, wouldn't you want to speak their own language, especially if you are fluent in it, instead of Latin--which isn't even your native language? And why are you whipping your back with a rough pine branch until it bleeds after lusting for that Algonquin girl when a simple 'I'm sorry, Jesus. Please give me the strength to fight temptation and to remember that I am celibate by choice so I won't be weighed down by earthly matters' would be far more effective? All in all, this film stands the test of time, and I only give it a 7 rating because of the Joan of Arc mistake and because of the unnecessary rambunctious copulation scenes.

It's hard to believe that people got paid to make a movie this awful.

[bswardog25 · 1/10 · 7 April 2002]

I have watched a lot of movies in my day and have never been so appalled and disappointed with a film as I was with Black Robe. The acting was poor; almost what I would expect out of a high school film class. The idea behind the film is great in the fact that it was trying to portray the hardships of the Jesuit missionaries and the Indians alike. Unfortunately, it just did not come together and ended up being a 1:45 long sleeping pill. I cannot understand how this movie can be compared to film greats such as Dances with Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans. It lacked the development, excitement, and class of Wolves and Mohican.

Brutal but beautiful

[escoles · 7 January 2001]

_Black Robe_ is an under-appreciated gem. With fine acting, a strong, literate screenplay, beautiful visuals from the spare, cold Canadian wilderness, and a lyrical, dialogue-light storytelling style, this film is an absorbing experience. Viewers with less patience for visual storytelling, or who don't like having to pay attention to details, will probably find it slow-going.

Be forewarned: _Black Robe_ is a brutal film, by modern western standards. Gruesome torture is openly referred to; native americans, particularly the northern Mohawk and Huron peoples, are _not_ substantially idealized.

Nice ethnographic touches are preserved -- for example, the Alqonkian-speaking group who agree to guide the Black Robe are permitted to clearly express their perplexity at the Jesuit's rudeness for not sharing his tobacco. Similarly, a Mohawk war-leader keenly sees opportunity in permitting the French to live: they can be traded for muskets, and forced to teach the Mohawk how to use the powerful new weapons. No "simple savages", after all: The Iroquois did not come to control much of the northeast through stupidity.

While widely excoriated by some native american advocates for its depiction of Mohawk and Huron brutality, the film actually soft-pedals the reality (as noted by other reviewers). The southern, Five-Nations Mohawk may have abandoned ritual cannibalism by this time, but it's certain that ritual torture and cannibalism were practiced throughout the Iroquois sphere of influence up to the early contact period. It was an aspect of their culture, and really no stranger than similar practices as recorded among christianized Scandinavians circa 1060 AD.

great movie!

[stewacide · 7/10 · 5 April 2001]

I've seen this movie on TV a number of times and absolutely love it! Very similar in feel to Last of the Mohicans though what I like about this movie is the more human aspect of it. It's been a while since I"ve last seen it so I can remember enough to comment on the plot details, but this is a great movie to check out. 7/10

Cross cultural conflict

[wrcong · 10/10 · 5 January 2005]

This exquisitely photographed film portrays the cultural clash between Europeans (in this case the Europeans happen to be French) and various native tribes in seventeenth century North America without romanticizing either French culture or that of the native peoples.

Perhaps the most striking feature of this film from my perspective was utter arrogance of the Europeans to come into a wild country presuming the superiority of their way of life over that of the indigenous peoples. No character seemed to understand that better than Father LaForgue, admirably portrayed by Lothaire Bluteau. The good Father soldiers on despite the evidence that his presence in the vast wilderness of North America won't make a whit of difference in his life or in the lives of the people he has vowed to introduce into "paradise." The Algonquin guides worry about their attachment to the "demon" LaForgue and wonder whether they shouldn't just kill him. Even LaForgue's young assistant, Daniel, wonders how the presence of a French missionary makes the the native people's lives any better. The Iroquois, who suffer from a harsh depiction in the film, take a more economically-based view of LaForgue -- he and Daniel are seen by the Iroquois as currency to be exchanged for guns.

An aside concerning the Iroquois. While the violence depicted in the film is no doubt accurate, what the film does not reveal is that the Iroquois likely became decidedly more hostile when the French began to assist old enemies, such as the Algonquin, in traveling into hunting grounds that had previously been Iroquois territory.

But back to LaForgue, whose journey is the primary emphasis of the film. He has journeyed, apparently from a life of some privilege in France, leaving behind a doting mother and (perhaps) a beautiful young woman. He has journeyed away from the "pleasures of the flesh," lingering on the sight of a couple making love in the communal tipi and later admitting to Daniel that he, LaForgue, lusts after the young Alogonquin woman,Annuka, with whom Daniel had already struck up a sexual relationship. He gets lost on the journey in the cathedral-like forest and rejoices and being found by Algonquin hunters, who express some bemusement that the Black Robe got lost in the first place. Finally, he journeys to the Hurons and a village beset by smallpox, where baptism has been sold to the natives as a miracle cure as much as it has a key to salvation.

By avoiding the tendency of films depicting Native American life to romanticize, Bruce Beresford has captured more profoundly the daily harsh realities of life for the peoples inhabiting the northeastern portion of North America at the arrivals of the first trickling of Europeans. Neither way of life is ultimately depicted as superior to the other: each simply is. This is not a "feel-good" film. Instead it is a realistic, thought-provoking tale of a journey of a man, of cultures, and of life itself. Simply a brilliant film.

Regard it as a documentary

[tipseek · 7/10 · 7 June 2022]

I found this piece of work fascinating because there's a rarity factor here. The costumes, geography, constructions, languages, mission related anecdotes, should have made into a larger scale fiction work. What a gem!

Utterly arresting. A film really without an equal in what it depicts.

[ericursus · 9/10 · 31 October 2006]

"Black Robe" is a film I have seen at least a dozen times and it continues to cause utter astonishment. The highest quality that any art can have is the ability to arrest the mind of the viewer. Days later imagery is still flooding back to you -- feelings -- ideas -- and of course questions... But questions that properly have no easy answers. The first time I saw this film was about 15 years ago when it was first released. I watched it in a Toronto cinema and afterward emerged into a warm and noisy downtown night, crowded with people, signs, lights cars taxis subways et cetera. Immediately, I was in culture shock. The movie had so taken me into the world of 17th century Canada that I could not adjust to the reality of 20th century Canada. It still has that effect. Astonishing.

Interesting

[grantss · 7/10 · 20 April 2014]

Interesting drama, set in 17th century Canada. Plot is solid, though takes a while to develop. After a point, however, it becomes a good adventure/survival story.

Obviously many of the points the director Bruce Beresford and writer of the book and screenplay, Brian Moore, wanted to make with the movie are the effects of religion, and its messengers, on the unconverted masses it comes into contact with. This is done reasonably well, and some of the reactions of the natives are quite interesting, and very plausible. However, the ultimate conclusion is a bit unsatisfactory, and overly simplistic.

Decent performances, though none stand out.

An amazing historical document

[jholmstrom-1 · 10/10 · 14 September 2005]

It is rare that a film makes you feel that you are actually witnessing history (rather than the "Hollywood Version"), but "Black Robe" accomplishes that and more. What I love about this film (that I have watched over a dozen times and will watch many more times) is that it doesn't take a point-of-view regarding the European colonization of the New World and the native American culture. Both cultures are seen as slightly insane world-views that are, ironically, valid in their own way, yet futile at the end of the day.

It concentrates on one Jesuit priest and his journey to the New World. The film demonstrates how difficult his journey was and his passionate commitment to his faith. But it also shows how nutty these priests were to try to preach to the unconverted. It also presents several native American tribes (such as the Hurons and Mohawks) and how truly savage they could be.

This is one of the great films of recent (perhaps all) time. I am suspicious as to why it has been ignored. I think that future generations will find a lot to enjoy here--beyond the beautiful scenery, the accurate historical information and the love of the natural world that appears throughout this truly amazing film...

Great Views

[jmarcel · 6/10 · 31 December 1998]

The cinematography in Black Robe is outstanding. Excellent shots of the snow and the forest. Great visuals all throughout this film. This film has been compared to Dances with Wolves, which I feel is a much better film. I did, however, enjoy Black robe for its dark undertones, authentic costumes, and beautiful scenery. Although not as well made as Dances or Last of the Mohicans, history enthusiasts will enjoy this film very much.

Wonderful, Soul-shaking

[jacksflicks · 10/10 · 13 June 1999]

When averaging, extreme scores skew the result. So I wonder at the motives of those who voted "1" for this film. Sabotage?

"Black Robe" invites comparison with "Aguirre, the Wrath of God," another masterpiece. Two great directors project their vision of two different men who do something we in this "civilized" culture can hardly imagine: plunge into a vast, unknown, alien world. And ultimately into oblivion.

The motivation, the source of courage, is faith, on one hand, and hubris on the other. Watch both examples. Though we can easily discern the noble from the base, we experience equally powerful stories. Here is a chance to see juxtaposed two profoundly different outlooks subjected to a common ordeal. What a wonderful, terrifying, soul-shaking thing to witness!

A dream is real. It must be obeyed.

[lastliberal · 6/10 · 12 January 2008]

The historical accuracy of this film appears to be good, and there is no doubt that the cinematography and costumes are absolutely beautiful. Québec, Canada is, indeed, a region that is beyond belief in it's scenery.

The performances by Lothaire Bluteau as Father Laforgue, the man who is to bring religion to the savages; and August Schellenberg were superb. The clash of civilizations is an interesting concept, and I always am amazed by those who think theirs is better. At last count, there were over 3,000 gods in history. Why does one think theirs is superior to anyone else's? The only criticism I have of the film is the absolutely inordinate amount of time spent doing nothing. Just seeing Father Laforgue walk around reading his breviary is an indication that time could have been cut.

beautifully photographed but downbeat history lesson

[mjneu59 · 4/10 · 7 November 2010]

A young French Jesuit priest journeys west into the New World in the early 17th century, facing all the usual challenges of the primeval wilderness: savage natives, inclement weather, and so forth. The similarities to 'Dances With Wolves', released two years earlier, are hard to ignore, not least in the way both films reduce complex historical issues of cultural dislocation to a grade school picture book level, throwing the White and Red man together against a background of (in this instance) breathtaking Autumn and Winter scenery. But unlike Kevin Costner's more commercial prairie epic, the newer film favors grim authenticity over audience-friendly hindsight. And without even a leading man of Costner's crowd-pleasing appeal it becomes little more than a handsome but depressing history lesson, not exactly a winning combination at the box office. Lothaire Bluteau is no less beatific in the title role than he was as 'Jesus of Montreal', and director Bruce Beresford seems determined to continue making shallow, issue-oriented entertainment ('Driving Miss Daisy', 'Mr. Johnson') for audiences without much real interest in the issues.