Latin American Politics through Films-The Mission
The politics of Latin America has best been represented throughfilms. Lots of films that have been produced carrying the theme ofpolitics provide viewers, learners and the audience in general withfirst-hand information of the developments that were made in thisfield. Most importantly, films carrying Latin American politicalthemes facilitates a historical reconstruction of the politicaljourney, as well as the milestones that have been made. Politicalatrocities that were committed by the ruling parties and the coloniesare brought live in the films.
With regard to the movie in questions (the mission) the essentialquestion that is brought up by the movie is whether faith andhumility can endure the test of authority, guns and political power(Pointer2007). According to the events of the film, especiallytowards the end, religious beliefs and will somehow bow to thepolitical powers, which stop at nothing when asserting their powerand authority. However, the readiness of the religious figures in thefilm to defend their church, faith and followers is amazing. Lots ofthese people died protecting what they believed in.
The scene where Rodrigo downs his weapons and he decides to dedicatehis life to missionary work. Further, he decides to carry a cross ofhis armor in a sack as he seeks forgiveness from the people that heoppressed and executed (Stevens 2003). The scene of the formersoldier drugging a suck full of weapons are resonating. The scenesare similar to situations in real life where bad guys abandon theirevil ways to do god to all.
The main problem that the author is addressing the film is thehistorical atrocities that religious pioneers encountered in theirmission of spreading Christianity. Believers were either compelled toconform to powerful political demands or move to a different locationwhere their practices would be tolerated (Pointer2007). Failing to obey the rules resulted to deaththough the guns of advancing armies.
The author makes the assumption that the natives could not have doneanything to stop the atrocities that were brought to them. In factthe fate of these people were in the hands of either the Portugueseor the Europeans (Stevens 2003). It was an extremely difficult tolive as a native as their rights were not protected by anyone. Thefocus was only on what could be obtained from their land.
The author provides the evidence that the natives who were convertedto Christianity did not understand any European war tactics andRodrigo had to train them. However, even after training, they turnedout to be a walk in the park for the army. Accordingly, even thenatives who choose to follow Gabriel and protest peacefully throughsongs were shot at point blank range by the soldiers and the onlypeople who survived are the ones who ran off (Pointer2007).
The problem presented by the author is important for people who areinterested comprehending the journey that Christian martyrs took forthe sake of their faith. In the past, people could be killed or takenfor slavery, without question (Stevens 2003). It is also vital topoint out that even the priests encountered difficult times in theirmissions, especially when the locals failed to distinguish them fromcounterparts who took the natives and sold them to work in theplantations.
POINTER, R.W. (2007). Encountersof the spirit Native Americans and European colonial religion.Bloomington, Indiana University Press.http://site.ebrary.com/id/10212566.Retrieved fromhttp://www.worldcat.org/title/encounters-of-the-spirit-native-americans-and-european-colonial-religion/oclc/213292728
STEVENS, D.F. (2005). Basedon a true story: Latin American history at the movies.Lanham, Md, SR Books. Retrieved fromhttp://www.worldcat.org/title/based-on-a-true-story-latin-american-history-at-the-movies/oclc/171218558