Robin asked me why my eyes were so puffy on Sunday. I had watched the Mission on DVD twice. Once on its own and the second time with Roland Joffe's commentary. Much weeping throughout - hence the eyes.
Why my big reaction?
I find the film, while it is a period film set in the 1750's, reflects where we are today. Will the powers of the corporate world crush the spirit? If they will - what do we do? the film offers us two models - Father Rodrigo, Jeremy Irons - who will not fight but offers himself up as a moral sacrifice. Or the reformed brother-killing ex slaver played by Robert de Niro who has to fight.
What chance do we have? Surely it is to make the type of commitment that we witness in this film. As the papal legate says in the epilogue - he lives but is dead. They died but live on. What better epitaph? Who knows we may also pull it off as well.
