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As I mentioned in class on Tuesday, the movie The Mission represents a real historical event (although it collapses and simplifies the events) which occurred in the Viceroyalty of the River Plate (Virreynato del Rio de la Plata - it included Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia) in the 18th century.  Obviously, Hollywood has put its own spin and dramatization on these events, partly to create a space for the characters.  Nevertheless, the movie has a lot to tell us about native groups caught between competing forces in colonial society, and the struggles they had to protect themselves.  As you watch the movie, I'd encourage you to think critically about some of the issues it raises:

1.  What are the differences between the policies that Portugal and Spain have developed regarding the Indians, and how do native peoples negotiate these differences?

2.  What is the political role of the Church in this event... do you get a sense of a church in conflict with itself?

3.  What are the broader issues being negotiated between the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, and how are these issues played out in the New World?

4.  The Pope is a political figure during this period... what role does he play?

5.  What drove the Guarani into the Jesuit missions?  What ultimately are the hopes and aims of the Guarani?  What are the Guarani attempting to preserve about their society?  What are they willing to give up?

6.  How do the Guarani frame their arguments for resistance?  There is an act, you will notice, of appropriating Spanish/Christian culture/cosmology in order to mount an effort at resisting.  What arguments do they give for resisting?  How does the Vatican representative understand this?

7.  Finally, are the Guarani passive pawns in this struggle, or do they take an active role?  Why do they choose to pursue an armed resistance?  Do they achieve their aims?