A heartwrenching film of mesmerizing beauty........

Rating: Null/10 (6 March 2004)

What can one say of "The Mission", but that it is one of the most beautifully photographed films I have ever set my eyes on. I first saw this epic film in 7th grade and it still haunts me to this day. If you are a lover of historical films this is a feast for the eyes. It is also very sad because it shows you the demise of the native American peoples of Central and South America as a result of colonial Spain's conquests. Robert de Niro and Jeremy Irons give great performances here as Jesuit priests that yearn to save and teach the Indians. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards and winning for Cinematography this film is a treasure that should be seen by everyone to remind us of how imperialism destroys civilizations and the beauty of other cultures. A definite tearjerker at the end. **** stars.