Black Robe
"Black Robe", a story written by novelist Brian Moore, is a film some say is a "story that preludes to nothing", however, I believe that the film did an excellent job of portraying colonialism, racism, and ethnocentrism. Throughout the whole film, constant reminders of the Europeans efforts to persuade everyone to follow their own beliefs and views of religion were being laid out as the Jesuit priests tried to convince a virgin territory of this "new" way of life. "Black Robe" is a story of a Jesuit priest, Father Laforgue, otherwise known as "Blackrobe", and his efforts to reach a Huron settlement with the aid of the Algonquins. Along the way many hardships arise as he is attacked, imprisoned, and left alone on his quest. Throughout his journey many points are brought up about ethnocentrism and colonialism that leave the viewer pondering his own self on what he had formerly thought was just a part of history read about in history books. His journey was a torturous experience but was the most real depiction of Indian life that I have come across; much more so than "Dances with Wolves", which portrays life as a much easier, happier attitude. Indians had formerly lived a secluded life from t
This action was a huge turning point for him and in the movie as a new view of consciousness for other beliefs becomes evident. All because of a group of French missionaries wanted to work for "greater glory of God," when in fact they were aiding in the destruction of an entire race of people. I felt that this film was ironic due to how these same feelings can still arise today in our society. "Black Robe" did a good job of bringing up the inadequacy of taking control of a whole colony of people who had lived a certain way for so long and forcing a new way of life upon them. After falling in love with the Algonquin chief's daughter, Annuka, he was scolded by Laforgue for falling away from his own beliefs; however, Laforgue lacked the words to reason with him about his love for her. Later this move would be beneficial as she uses her unselfish, cleverness to help them escape from the Iroquois after being captured. People are still hard to see others viewpoints. Each group thinks that its own folkways are the only right ones. When the Huron Indians told him that the previous missionary had told them that if they were baptized they would be cured of their illness, Laforgue was quick to tell them that was not the case but, if they were baptized they could ask Jesus for help. The French coming from Europe were unswaying in their rightness and were willing to travel all the way to America to be possibly killed for their beliefs creating their martyrdom. A life that they had grown very accustomed in which they relied on cooperation and trust of each other as a weapon against climate and enemies. " After doing looking up the word ethnocentrism it further went on to give the definition of William Graham Sumner, the originator of the term, as, "The view of things in which one's own group is the center of everything and all others are scaled and rated, in reference to ones group. Homophobia, racism, discrimination are so prevalent in the US alone that we often look past them. " The similarities to today make this story a worthwhile movie to take home and learn from.
Common topics in this essay:
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Acceptance Essays
