The Mission Mendoza Movie

In the movie The Mission Mendoza acted more correctly in his reaction to the destruction of The Mission. While living in the Mission, a mercenary Spaniard named Rodrigo Mendoza meets Father Gabriel. Mendoza captures Guarani people who go outside the borders of the Mission and sells them as slaves in Latin America territory controlled by Portugal, where slavery is legal. In a fit of jealous rage, he attacks and murders his brother. Mendoza didn’t go to jail for the murder. Father Gabriel talked to Mendoza and convinced him to repent by returning with him to the Mission. Mendoza agreed and returned to the mission. Mendoza found redemption and peace among the natives. Father Gabriel later allowed Mendoza to become a priest in his order.

Mendoza was forced to drag his armor and weapons up the mountain. A warrior held a knife up to Mendoza, recognizing him as the slaver who had captured and sold many of his people. Instead of killing Mendoza, the native showed mercy and cut him free from his armor. Later, Mendoza publicly states that the Spaniards are engaged in the slave trade in violation of their own laws. The King of the Guarani refuses an offer and decided he will fight for his land. Mendoza announced his intention to help the Guarani people fight. Gabriel gave Mendoza his cross and says that if God approves, Mendoza will be victorious.

Mendoza and another priest stole some of the guns and weapons from the European military and train the Guarani in warfare. Mendoza rigged the bridge into the Mission with explosives and lied to wait to blow up the bridge when the armed forces begin to cross. While waiting, he saw an injured native child and runs out to assist him in running away to the woods. While Mendoza is gone, the armed forces discover and disarm the bombs beneath the bridge. Mendoza returns to the bridge and is shot after unsuccessfully attempting to blow the bomb. He laid bleeding to death as the armed forces cross into the Mission. Mendoza held on to life to watch as Gabriel and his choir advance peacefully upon the soldiers, hoping that Gabriel’s peaceful path will win the day. Instead, the soldiers open fire and kill the unarmed Guarani children and women, as well as Father Gabriel. Mendoza then died due to the gunshot wounds.

I believe Mendoza acted correctly as he risked his life to save a child. He did everything in his power to help the natives and asked God for forgiveness to killing his own brother. He went back and helped the same people that he sold off as slaves. Even though it was legal when he did it, he realized that it was wrong and still did his best while looking for forgiveness. When father Gabriel gave up on fighting Mendoza continued to help and fight because he saw no other way.