An Artfully Done Work of Art

Rating: 9/10 (13 June 2009)

This is an outstanding film. It took me a few moments to actually follow the plot, so don't let yourself be discouraged by the start of the movie. It takes some getting used to and grounded in as you are swept between times and cultures. But you eventually get your bearings and find yourself being swept along by the cinematography, acting and story as if you were cascading down the waterfall that plays so powerfully into the scenery.
It was a sudden "ah ha!" moment for me when I realized that this was a true story about events I'd learned about in seminary. The Jesuits had gotten into trouble with the mainline Catholic church because of their unorthodox ways of what is expected to be done, today, mixing with the culture of native tribes in order to learn their languages and teach them the Gospel. But don't be put off by the religious parts of the plot because it is not preachy at all. In fact, religion takes a definite back seat to politics and power plays as well as powerful acting.
And everywhere there is astounding scenery, camera work and direction. It is so good that your mind is allowed to make connections far beyond what movies usually engender. For example, as I saw the natives standing on a bridge at one point, all of them ready to greet the approaching dignitary, I realized that they looked like ripe, brown fruit, suspended within branches as they were between Heaven and earth. And I realized that's the whole point of the Gospel and of the movie. Several allusions are made to the Garden of Eden and I realized that just as GOD made fruit of all sorts in the Garden for humanity to enjoy, we are His fruit. We are the seeds of GOD, encased in rinds of flesh for now but destined (if we will only allow Him to nourish, tend and prune us) to bear more fruit and flourish in eternal life.
That recognition of Deity's touch upon humanity, in all of humanity's shapes and colors, and the need to communicate with each other, is much of the message of the film. But it is anything but a message film in the crass sense. Instead it is a step back into a time and place we can seldom experience now and a thoughtful expression of thoughts we still need to ponder and wrestle with as we deal with each other and wrestle with faith in GOD Himself.