Black Robe (1991)

Brian Moore’s screen adaptation of his novel of the same name is against historical events set in 17th century Canada. It is partly an adventure story which draws attention to the life conditions and the conflicts among the indigenous tribal communities and the French settlers in the Quebec region of the time.

What we see is a troublesome interaction between the ideals of the European Christianity and the primitive tribal cultures, further complicated by the colonial situation in Canada. It centers on a young fictional Jesuit missionary named Father Paul Laforgue’s mission to a remote Algonquin tribe in Huron, to “reap a great harvest of souls” in 1634. He was sent by Samuel de Champlain, the founder of the French settlement in Quebec. Undertaking an arduous winter journey of up to 2,400 kilometers, Laforgue must endure harsh conditions while carrying out his mission.

Daniel, a young French carpenter, accompanies Fr Laforgue in his arduous journey serving as his translator. The Red Indian tribes have their own religious customs and beliefs. They are not easily open to Jesus and the ideals of Christianity promoted by the “Black Robes” as they call the Jesuits. Though the Algonquin tribals protect him, the missionary feels his beliefs challenged by their tribal leader and experienced traveler Chomina who is a clairvoyant and claims to have supernatural dreams. There is also his wife, and Annuka, their daughter. Daniel falls in love with the chief's daughter, and Laforgue has to face the troubles accompanying this. Earnest in his mission of saving souls, Laforgue learns that the Algonquin tribals were more concerned about surviving the perils of the river and their fights with the rival tribe of Iroquois.

Laforgue and Daniel encounter the Montagnais, a group led by the shaman Mestigoit, who distrusts Laforgue, accusing him of being a demon. Mestigoit persuades the Algonquins abandon the two Frenchmen, though Daniel follows them because of Annuka. Chomina returns with others to help find Laforgue.

            Mohawk Iroquois warriors attack and kill many Algonquins including Chomina's young son. The captured survivors are killed and tortured. Annuka’s clever intervention helps everyone escape. The mortally wounded Chomina dies in the wilderness after experiencing a spiritual vision, though he does not convert.

Later Annuka and Daniel bring Laforgue near the Huron settlement to continue alone. But most of the French settlers have been killed by Hurons, who blamed them for a devastating smallpox epidemic. The remaining French survivor urges Laforgue to save the Hurons through baptism. The Hurons, desperate for help, ask whether he truly loves them. He answers "Yes" and baptizes them.

The film ends with the spiritual success for Laforgue but a historical tragedy for the Hurons as revealed in the epilogue that reveals that about 15 years later the Hurons were defeated and largely destroyed by the Iroquois, and the Jesuit mission was abandoned.