Sunday, May 15, 2011

The Mission

I've always said that my favorite movie of all-time is The Mission, but I have only seen it a few times. I was introduced to the movie when I was a sophomore in college - one of my English professors got so emotional talking about the film, I had to rent it that next weekend. I wish I could peel back the layers of what I know now so that I could remember what it was like to see it for the first time. My response to it was guttural, I remember that. I put the soundtrack on repeat in my room and grieved. (Years later my friend Sharon would say, as an aside to a conversation about human trafficking, that many times people will cry or will respond emotionally to something, and will think that they have done something about the problem. She had moved, not past emotional responses, but into a life of flesh and blood responses. I flashed back to myself face down on my comforter, bawling my eyes out when she said that.) I can't remember what exactly got to me that first time, the story is complex, but I think I saw that my life resembled the Spanish and the Portuguese more than it resembled the Guarani, or the Jesuits, and that made me feel the long distance to heaven, and the complexities of responsibility in societies.

The second time I watched it was two years later. Troy and I were going to get married, and so he thought he should see my favorite film of all-time (his was It's a Wonderful Life) I left his apartment in tears, struck again by how impossibly small love looks next to violence. That time, the silliness of war (men in wigs fighting with singing children - absurd!) was so clearly stupid, and yet at the same time, still so violent and real, with real consequences. I understood the Old Testament God that night in a way I had not yet.

I have thought about the movie many times since then, and even though I have owned it for many years, we just got around to watching it again tonight. I feel it planted in my heart (that is probably why I am blogging after mid-night). There are so many people in the world asserting power. People groups, political groups, religious groups, neighborhood associations. Everyone has their stuff, and their power-play. In my heart/nature I feel two responses - one is to quit, disengage, stop showering, and despair that the only way to take away a tiny bit of that power is to take my bit of power and walk away. But the other response/desire I feel is to take my bit of power, lay it down and follow Jesus. Truly, His way (love, forgiveness, standing with the broken-hearted) is the only way forward in deadlocks of power, misunderstanding, and anger. You really do have to lose your life to live.

Now that is a good movie. The Mission has given me twenty years of rumination and compelling heart-examination - even when I wasn't watching it!

12 comments:

  1. I agree! I first saw it about 2 months ago and just lay in bed that night crying and praying and thinking (and trying not to think!). I think it has such an impact for me because on both sides (the "good" and the "bad") people died for what they believed in, and it seemed so sad to me that some were loosing their life to something that was so meaningless. So much to think about from this movie, even months later - so I get how you are still thinking, twenty years later! :)

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  2. Such a good one! I had to watch in high school Spanish and immediately went out and bought the soundtrack. I'm going to have to go watch it again. Thanks for the reminder.

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  3. It's a great movie (and soundtrack). I need to see about getting my hands on it again.

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  4. Dear Sara, Your recommendations are always appreciated and wind up having a powerful impact on us. I have never seen this movie but will order it today and look forward to watching it with my family.

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  5. Movies like The Mission do help us gain perspective on our collective history and the responsibility that we have to set things right for the present generation of those who have come from persecuted, mistreated and afflicted people groups.

    Terra nullius was the title given to Australia over 200 years ago - loaded with complete disrespect and violence towards the indigenous population. We still have a long way to go to show genuine sorrow and practical love to the original custodians of this land.

    I am thankful that Heaven is our true home and am hopeful that the knowledge of this might enable more to loosen their grip on what will pass, spoil and fade.

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  6. I will definately have to watch this movie. I haven't ever seen it. On a side note, is there any where I can get a soundtrack to "Song for My Sons"? I want to sing it for my two sons. I would really appreciate your help. It is an amazing song!!!!!!!!

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  7. It would be difficult for me to say "favorite" about any film but this one is most certainly in my "Top 10" (that's about as specific as I'm willing to commit). Anyway....... It is a powerful story / movie. I get something different from it each time I watch. Some who've I've watched with say "never again" (too sad and disturbing). Others are as intrigued as I am with the story of human nature, human suffering, and the capacity for both good and evil that we humans seem to be endowed with.

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  8. the Mission is definitely one of my favorites! I also love the soundtrack. I even walked down the aisle to 'Gabriel's Oboe'.

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  9. Before this movie came out, ministries and churches were given pre-releases and question books and encouraged to take non-Christians to it so that afterwards they could engage in deep dramatic and meaningful dialogue about suffering, faith, purpose.... I remember the most profound portion of the movie for me was when the credits were rolling (or maybe right before it, but I think it was interspersed with the credits) and you see what the children do. Hope in the midst of violence, confusion and pain- hope that moves us to live a life in the direction of that hope.

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  10. Sara, I am a huge fan of the movie, and possibly moreso of the soundtrack. As someone who is mesmerized by "Gabriel's Oboe" and who also has very little musical ability, would you consider putting some lyrics to that haunting tune? It has been done twice now, but both renditions seems too... (something) for the weight of the movie. I think someone with your ability with words might have something great to offer. Here's one version: (the other lyrics are posted on the Wikipedia page)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGoBKkt-98o&feature=related

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  11. Sara,
    Yes, a film that expresses a gut reaction to many layers of humanity (government and religious corruption, self defense issues, bringing our culture to the mission field) Very inspired. I think one of the intriguing parts is the slow transformation of Robert DeNiro's Rodrigo from malicious slave trader to a purchased bond slave. I have seen this film twice; once before Christ got a hold of me, and then many years after I had been purchased. Valuable lessons there.

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  12. I have not seen the film but am familiar with the musical score - so beautiful. The world is a cruel place - the earth itself groaning for the completion of redemption. Our Jesus said we will always have hardship in this life - our responsibility is to live out the Law of Love that He put into motion - esteeming others better than ourselves - including our enemies. To live in such a way is not natural, it is supernatural and only through Christ, the power of His Spitit in us, can we do it. Even the tiniest light can brighten the darkest cavern.

    Gonna get the film from the library...

    Sara - thank you for your music. . .the only thing that isn't meaningless to me is Jesus Christ and and way He set me free. :-)

    In our Savior,
    Linda K.

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