- Actors: Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Ray McAnally, Aidan Quinn, Cherie Lunghi
- Directors: Roland Joffé
- Writers: Robert Bolt
- Producers: Alejandro Azzano, David Puttnam, Felipe López Caballero, Fernando Ghia, Iain Smith
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 2
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: 2 Jun 2003
- Run Time: 125 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000094P4U
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 18,699 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields) directs this fuzzy effort at a David Lean-like epic without David Lean's sense of emotional proportion. Lean's most important screenwriting collaborator, Robert Bolt, in fact wrote The Mission, which concerns a Jesuit missionary (Jeremy Irons) who establishes a church in the hostile jungles of Brazil and then finds his work threatened by greed and political forces among his superiors. Robert De Niro is briefly effective as a callous soldier who kills his own brother and then turns to Irons's character to oversee his penance and conversion to the clergy. The narrative and dramatic forces at work in this film should be more stirring and powerful than they are--the problem being that Joffé is too removed from them to allow us in. --Tom Keogh
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Mission is director Roland Joffé's fuzzy effort at an epic in David Lean style without David Lean's sense of emotional proportion. In fact, Lean's most important screenwriting collaborator, Robert Bolt, wrote The Mission, which concerns a Jesuit missionary (Jeremy Irons) who establishes a church in the hostile jungles of Brazil and then finds his work threatened by greed and political forces among his superiors.
Robert De Niro is briefly effective as a callous soldier who kills his own brother and then turns to Irons's character to oversee his penance and conversion to the clergy. The narrative and dramatic forces at work in this movie should be more stirring and powerful than they are, the problem being that Joffé is too removed from them to allow us in. By way of compensation, Ennio Morricone contributes one of his most evocative and admired music scores. --Tom Keogh
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
73 of 76 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is such an underrated film. In fact many people I speak to have never even heard of it. I watched it initially because of the haunting soundtrack (it would be worth watching for this alone) and was gripped by the storyline. This film shows the devestating effect that colonisation by Europeans had on the native tribes of the Amazon as well as telling the story of courageous missionaries trying to protect those they felt called to serve.
It is beautifully filmed in Uruguay and uses actors from local tribes to add authenticity to the portrayal. The cast are superb with excellent performances from Robert de Niro and Jeremy Irons as priests with very different perspectives on the situation they find themselves in.
This film is now available at a ridiculously low price so snap it up and add a film of true quality to your collection. At very least add it to your rental list.
It is beautifully filmed in Uruguay and uses actors from local tribes to add authenticity to the portrayal. The cast are superb with excellent performances from Robert de Niro and Jeremy Irons as priests with very different perspectives on the situation they find themselves in.
This film is now available at a ridiculously low price so snap it up and add a film of true quality to your collection. At very least add it to your rental list.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The Mission was one of the first videos I ever bought and will forever be one the most intense, passionate and moving films I have ever seen. The sheer beauty of the film fills you with empathy and compassion for a story that is over 300 years old. Many a lesson both political and personal could be learnt from this epic film.
A beautiful portrayal of barbaric events with a soundtrack so bittersweet it's almost unbearable.
Everyone should see this film!
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I read Robert Bolt's deeply moving novel, 'The Mission', before watching the film, and was therefore anxious to see how it would be treated on screen. As it happens, Bolt wrote the screenplay, and appears to have worked closely with the director, Rolland Joffe ('The Killing Fields'). The result is masterly, and everything I could have hoped for!
The story, based on true events, depicts the tragedy of a South American tribe at the hands of Church, State and European entrepreneurs over 200 years ago. Bolt and Joffe offer no easy answers to questions of faith, politics and morality, in this painfully modern tale. When is it right to kill for what you believe in? Who should command my loyalties - my country, my family, or my God? Can we ever know what is right or wrong?
The photography is outstanding, the acting courageous and beautifully judged, (including a magnificently restrained Robert de Niro as a reformed slave-trader turned Jesuit), and the story utterly compelling. You will truly care about the lives you witness.
The extra features are worth buying alone! The second disc is a documentary on the making of the film, but more riveting is the director's commentary on disc 1. He explains clearly and passionately the many layers to the making of 'The Mission'. Above all, he explores the extraordinary way in which he employed a genuine South American tribe, who had never seen white people before, let alone a film. As Roffe was unable to direct these indians in the way he would more conventional actors, the indians' performances are more or less their real responses to the scenes Roffe sets up. He handed over a great many decisions to them, and allowed them to choose and act according to their culture and feelings.
A particularly touching aspect is the bond that developed between de Niro and an eleven-year old boy, (and natural actor), to the point that the boy begged to live with de Niro in New York!
I know of no other film like it, and would wish everyone to see it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The real mission.
The Mission is the real facinating story of the Guarni People, their encounter with truth and God. It is really facinating to watch the film in DVD form.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. J. Abraham
when you see this film you will be emotionally devastated
(THE FILM):
Jeremy Irons plays a Spanish Jesuit who goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region. Read more
Jeremy Irons plays a Spanish Jesuit who goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region. Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. F. husseiny
The Mission Film
Excellent music, wonderful story and great direction.
The acting is also terrific and the film is certainly worth seeing.
I would definitely recommend it.
The acting is also terrific and the film is certainly worth seeing.
I would definitely recommend it.
Published 2 months ago by Dr. Aslan Mordecai
I must be missing something.
I recently bought and watched this dvd after reading the reviews on here. I think I must be missing something. Read more
Published 8 months ago by lufcdave
MISSION
Storyline was difficult at the start and it needs undivided attention to follow. It got better as it went on.
Published 13 months ago by R. Alston
Classic and moving film
Hadn't seen The Mission since it's original release, often thought it strange that it rarely appears on any of the movie channels. Read more
Published 14 months ago by JM Cork
The Mission
This is one of the most memorable films I have ever seen. The music is now famous - and rightly so. The scenery is beautiful too. The acting, filming and story are first class. Read more
Published 20 months ago by JaniceMG
Brilliant
Having read the review for this film on Amazon, I purchased it. Wow! It was money well spent. I didn''t realise this film was so good! Watch it on as big a screen as you are able. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mike Pinchen
The Mission
We have given this DVD as gifts to close and extended members of our family, to prove mans inhumanity to man, hopefully we can change!!! Very good film.
Published 24 months ago by S. Williams
The Missed opportunity
Beautifully filmed, charming music, fine actors, topically critical of church hypocrisy, but platitudinous and patronising tosh.
Published 24 months ago by Brummy D
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