Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

What was it like, when the first French European colonists, trappers, traders, (and missionaries), encountered the various sophisticated tribes of the Northeast culture area?
The Huron, an Algonquin speaking nation, was at odds with the great Iroquois(pronounced Iro-qwah), federation of nations. These two major cultures were historically locked in almost constant raiding, combat, and war that took on a very ritualistic nature. It was in this context that the French found themselves when they were in the fledgeling stages of colonizing, "civilizing", and exploiting, what is now the huge Canadian province of Quebec. So, what was it like back then in the mid-1600s? The movie, "Black Robe", does an extremely good job at answering that question. Extremely well researched, with some good acting, a good story line and plot, and spectacular scenery, as well as some tense and suspenseful action moments, "Black Robe" is probably a better, and more accurate portrayal of Native Americans of the Northeast, than "Last of the Mohicans", the movie based on James Fennimore Cooper's novel of the same name. "Black Robe", too, is based on a novel, this time by Brian Moore.
What follows is a table of information about the movie "Black Robe", as well as a synopsis and a review of the same.

Information on the film "Black Robe".

Production date: 1991
Viewing Format: VHS
Running Time: 101 minutes
Movie Genre: Adventure and Drama
Director: Bruce Beresford
Production Company: A Joint Film Production of Australia and Canada
Distributors: Sam Goldwyn
Price: $11.99-16.99
Cast:
Father la Forgue--Lothair Bluteau
Daniel--Aden Young
Annuka--Sandrine Holt
Chomina--August Schellenberg
Chomina's Wife--Tantoo Cardinal
Neehatin--Lawrence Bayne
Awondowie--Harrison Liu
Ouajita--Wesley Cote
Mastigoit--Yvonne Labelle
Iroquois Leader--George Pachanos
Champlain--Jean Brosseau
Father Jerome--Frank Wilson
Father Baroque--Francois Tasse'
Ougembot--Billy Two Rivers
and many more.....
Casting: Clare Walker



Synopsis and Review.

The story of the movie "Black Robe" is set in the mid-1600s in what is now Quebec, Canada. The film starts with some cool woodcuts from that period depicting maps and the Indians of the era. We find ourselves in the settlement of Quebec, in 1634, with Father Laforgue, played by Lothair Bluteau, a Jesuit priest engaging the trappers and traders in conversation. Monsieur Champlain is having a discussion with Father Baroque about the settlement, and relations with the Indians, particularly the Huron nation. Champlain, and the French government, wish for a small expedition to go into the heart of the Huron nation, 1500 miles by canoe, on a trip of almost certain death. They choose Laforgue, and his young apprentice Daniel, played by Aden Young. It is decided, and they are to accompany a family group of Algonquin speaking Huron Indian, who are pledged to protect and guide the priest and his apprentice to the French mission that was established years before in the heart of Huron lands.

The family group that is chosen for this 'honor' is headed by a Huron man named Chomina(August Schellenberg). They are accompanied by his wife, eldest sons, a lovely daughter(Sandrine Holt), a couple of brothers, and a young son. Daniel can speak Algonquin fluently, and Father Laforgue speaks it sparingly.

Before leaving, there is a great ceremony, in which the Huron and the French will have a great meeting. In a scene that is very well done, we get to see the two camps, and the two leaders, preparing for the meeting. Chomina is shown putting on his finery, paint, and beads, and bear claws. Champlain is shown putting on his heavy coat and robes of office, hat, and his heavy gold cross. In contrast as well, we see the Indians singing around a campfire, and then the French traders and trappers singing and dancing, and playing their respective accordian instruments. It is here that they pledge to bring Laforgue, whom the Huron nickname "Blackrobe", since he wears a black cassock, to the seldom heard from, aforementioned, French mission. In an ironic scene, a French noble dressed in his finery, remarks how Champlain looks like a "savage chieftan", and that it is the Indians who are "colonizing us, and not them."

So, the group depart the settlement by canoe, seven canoes in all. They are laden with trade goods, like tobacco, iron pots, etc. On the way there, the group will encounter many wonders, have time to reflect, and have some extremely action filled adventures. On this trip, Black Robe is supposed to paddle 12 hours a day to maintain the "admiration and respect" of the Indians.

We have several flashbacks of Father Laforgue's past during the journey. To summarize, we see him as a young man, courting a lovely young woman, that his mother approves of.
But, for some reason, he is lured to the romance of the New World, and decides to become a priest, at the behest of a priest who has been mutilated by "the savages"(fingers cut off, and an ear cut off).

On the journey itself, we see many aspects of life among the Huron. They share everything, make a birchbark wigwam each night, hunt and gather food together, sleep together, make love, keep dogs, travel together, and do everything in perfect harmony. In contras to all of this, you have this Jesuit priest who is here to spread "the word of God" to these "Savages". He shows them the wonders of writing at one point, and tells them about God and heaven. When asked if there would be tobacco and many women in heaven, he tells them no. That you would be happy to sit on a cloud and to look at God. This heaven is not to the Huron's liking! On the journey, young Daniel falls in love with Annuka, Chomina's lovely daughter, who eventually falls in love with him, even though he is a "foolish Frenchman". Black Robe's use of writing is almost considered as magical sorcery.

At one point on the journey, Black Robe notices that a newborn baby dies, and goes into the forest to baptize the baby. He is observed by some male members of the tribe, who are more and more convinced that he is a sorcerer, who has cast a spell or curse on the baby, so it won't get to the afterlife. So, as a result of this, the group of Huron find a Huron medecine man, Mastigoit, who is also a dwarf. He comes on the journey with the group, and tries to chant, and sing, and yell, and generally scare Black Robe away, as he confirms that Black Robe is a "devil".

On the journey, Black Robe gets separated from the party, who has gone out to hunt moose in the woods. Feeling that he is abandoned, he sets down to give up and die, and prays to God for courage. The family group of Huron finds him, and the group are ambushed by a raiding party of Iroquois. Many are killed, and Black Robe, Daniel, an injured Chomina, Annuka, and the young son, are taken prisoner to the Iroquois camp. When they arrive, it is winter, the men are stripped tot he waist, and are sent through the middle of two lines of Iroquois warriors, the "march of ordeal".
As they stumble and run through, are kicked, beaten, and wallopped on the head and body. Daniel goes back through to save the priest, who falls half way through. When they get into the main Iroquois longhouse, Black Robe is put through more pain, as the leader of the Iroquois cuts off one of his finger with a sharp mussel shell! Ouch!
They are interred for the evening in a longhouse, and that they need to save their strength, as "this has been but the first Caress". The "caress", is a term used by the Iroquois and Huron to their ritual of ordeals of pain that they put captured members of the other's tribe through. During a "caress", the men are not to call out in pain, as it is shameful. Also, the young boy is killed, having his throat sliced. They make good their escape as a result of Annuka, who seduces the guard, and then hits him over the head with a large club as he is raping her. The group, with the injured Chomina(he has an arrowhead stuck in his ribs), escapes in the snow and into the night. They steal a canoe and head out.

Chomina is dying of internal bleeding and eventually goes into shock. He rejects a baptism, and, instead, lays down to die. In a poignant scene, he see the "She Manitou", who comes to claim him, and bring him into the Huron afterlife.

The three eventually split up. Daniel and Annuka go on their own, and leave Black Robe to make it to the French mission on his own. He eventually finds it, and finds a very old French priest there. Things have taken a turn for the worse, as the French priests had spread smallpox and other diseases among the Huron of this "parish", and they killed them all off, except for the old priest, who welcomes Black Robe. He dies the next day, and the Huron return to confront Black Robe. When asked if he can save them from their illness, he tells them he can, with baptism, and holds a big mass and baptismal ceremony.
The movie then ends with the caption that the Huron accepted Christianity, and weakened by disease and "civilized, were eventually conquered and annhialated by their enemies, the Iroquois.

This movie is an extremely good portrayal of Native Americans, or Indians, in the Northeast Culture Area, at the time of First Contact with Europeans. It is a visually stunning film, and was filmed on location in Quebec. The film has a very good plot, although the plot is rather dark, and the theme is darker. This film puts into question, finally, the idea of "civilizing" the Indians.
Missionaries, priests, and Christianity have done more harm than good to native cultures all around the world, and this movie rightly points the finger and blame at this practice.
The "500 nations" of Native Americans were in perfectly fine shape, lived in harmony with the land, and yes, fought among themselves quite a lot. But just look at Europe's history! "Civilized Europe" has engaged in more wars, and attempted genocides, than any other continent in our recorded history!

The acting is good, and the cinemetography are excellent in this movie. I also like the score, which never gets in the way of the action. Full of historically and anthropologically accurate facts, this film is unequalled in Hollywood, and is as accurate, if not more so, as the cultural events that took place in "Dances with Wolves" or "Little Big Man". It is a more accurate portrayal than "Last of the Mohicans" as well.

All in all, "Black Robe" is a fantastic movie that is very much overlooked, and overshadowed by these other movies.
It is very much a "Sleeper", and is worth watching, and adding to, any movie lovers collection.


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older