Tragic and moving, with "powerhouse" performances

Rating: 8/10 (7 May 2004)

SPOILER: Jeremy Irons is brilliant in this film!
'The Mission' is a masterful piece of emotional manipulation coupled with historical factuality. THe events portrayed within the film no doubt occured in real life, but I expect the reality of the situation was much less touching than portrayed in the film.
The film successfully romanticises the turmoil and sacrafice that the Jesuits and the natives went through during this colonisation period. The entire film is 'build-up' to a climax scored to perfection that draws on all of your sympathies and sorrows, creating a genuine emotional response.
It made me cry anyway. I would reccomend this one to anybody who doesn't mind being saddened by a film, but it's not all bad, because so much good has been done by Irons et al before it is all destroyed that the overall message is one of strength and hope.
The acting from Irons is unbelievably good, and De Niro has a small but powerful role that was impactual enough to get his bonce on all the promotional stuff.
Such a touching experience. Don't watch it alone or you'll have no one to prove that you're not just a big girl's blowse (believe me, there shouldn't be a dry eye in the house).
Also beautifully shot. 8/10.