The film “The Mission”, directed by Roland Joffé, is a 1986 British film about the experience of Jesuit missionaries in South America in the 18th century. The film is partly narrated by Cardinal Altamirano. The Mission presents the Church as corrupt, the Jesuits as noble and the Guarani Indian community as animals. Cardinal Altamirano, a former Jesuit priest, is the Pope's representative sent to inspect Father Gabriel's mission (Saeger 394). The Portuguese wanted this mission closed so that the Guarani Indian community would no longer be protected by the mission. The pope felt he risked losing Portugal's support if the mission was not closed. Fearing losing Portuguese support, the Pope sent Altamirano to convince the Jesuits to close the mission. Altamirano was informed by the Pope that if the Jesuits were not convinced to close the mission, then Altamirano should close the mission himself. This passage shows that the Church is corrupt. Altamirano never came to decide whether or not the mission would remain under the protection of the Church. Instead, he came to convince the Jesuits to close the mission. If the mission remained under the protection of the Church, the Guarani Indian community would have been safe from slave traders. Altamirano visits the great Mission of Saint Miguel and the Mission Saint Carlos de Gabriel. When Altamirano visited Saint Miguel and the Mission Saint-Carlos de Gabriel, he was amazed at the success of the Guarani Indians' conversion to Christianity. Although Altamirano was surprised, he spoke out in favor of the colonists in order to protect the Church. However, he knew he was wrong and should have ruled in favor of the Jesuits (Saeger 405). Altamirano did what he was asked, there...... middle of paper ......y, and by giving them a different set of rules to follow, the natives can be considered human and not animals. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Jesuits most likely viewed the Guarani as animals until they adapted to a different set of rules and converted to Christianity. Cardinal Altamirano, who represents the Pope, is presented as a corrupt member of the Church when he governs. in favor of the settlers. All Altamirano wanted was to protect the Church. He came to South America to make a decision already decided in advance. The Jesuits are presented as noble members who help the Guarani Indians by educating them, converting them to Christianity, and defending their community against the Portuguese and Spanish. Finally and unfortunately, the Guarani Indians are represented in the form of animals. They are kidnapped into slavery and are called devil worshipers..