Despite an occasionally plodding screenplay, this white-man-in-the-wilderness drama goes DANCES WITH WOLVES one better by showing more genuine respect for its subject. Directed by Bruce Beresford, BLACK ROBE was adapted by Brian Moore from his own novel, which, in turn, was based on
letters and journals written by Jesuit missionaries, whom the Indians dubbed "black robes," in the New World during the 17th century.
The story revolves around Father Laforgue (JESUS OF MONTREAL's Lothaire Bluteau) who is sent by Champlain (Jean Brousseau), the founder and governor of Quebec, 1,500 miles north to a frontier Jesuit mission to assist in the conversion of the Huron tribe to Catholicism in 1634. Pledging to guide
and protect Laforgue, Algonquin leader Chomina (August Schellenberg) brings his wife, young son and beautiful teenage daughter Annuka (Sandrine Holt), as well as a small party of braves and their families. Driven as much by his passion for Annuka as his aspirations to the priesthood, young French
settler Daniel (Aden Young) also volunteers to accompany Laforgue on what turns into a grueling journey.
Returning to the theme of his first international hit, BREAKER MORANT, as well as the more recent MISTER JOHNSON, Beresford's emphasis in BLACK ROBE is on European presumption in forcing native peoples to adopt Western culture. Nevertheless, BLACK ROBE tries to distinguish itself by pretending to
a basic, at times brutal, "honesty" in its depiction of native culture. The Indians in BLACK ROBE aren't the starry-eyed noble savages that strain credibility in DANCES WITH WOLVES. Far from it: there are scenes of Indian brutishness that rival anything in overtly racist Hollywood films. These are
balanced by a sympathetic portrayal of Laforgue's Indian companions, who appear as relatively complex human beings. Their spiritual beliefs ultimately impress Laforgue, though it happens too late to be of much help to anyone.
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