Bruce Beresford’s Black Robe: A Movie About Religious Conversion

Alexander Bermeo February 25, 2013 WHO 2001 – U01 Black Robe Although throughout the film it was evident that other Indian tribes, such as the Iroquois and Algonquin, did not want to convert to Christianity because it went against their own beliefs, the Huron’s were able to go against their belief and accept Christianity.
Despite the Huron’s disapproval of the religion because of their own beliefs they eventually accept the religion based on the perception of father LaForgue and his humbleness when he arrives to the settlement, the Huron’s respective chauvinism changes and begins to tolerate the religion as time goes by when the settlement accepts Christianity and the honesty LaForgue gives off, and a cultural rapprochement is evident when the Huron settlement accept Christianity when father LaForgue is there and becomes the priest of the settlement.
The film Black Robe shows that there was a successful convergence of the religion the Huron’s had to Christianity. Throughout the film all the tribes did not like father LaForgue, as well as LaForgue’s assistant, Daniel. It is clear the Indians do not like father LaForgue because they discriminate him by referring to him as “black robe” and not by his actual name. (Black Robe) Also, when the Algonquin’s abandon LaForgue Daniel continues with the Indian tribe and they do not like it nor do they like him following them.

For example, one member of the tribe attempts to murder Daniel as he is following the tribe. (Black Robe) However, despite all these things that have occurred father LaForgue remains humble and when he finally reaches the Huron settlement he respects the tribe and tells them that he loves them even though the other Indians tortured him and put him through a tough journey. During father LaForgue’s journey to the Huron settlement it is clear that each Indian tribe show a strong chauvinistic view on their respective religions. For example, even though LaForgue goes through many trials and ribulations with the Algonquin tribe, he is still with the chief as he is dying and still refuses LaForgue’s request to convert, and the chief even tells his daughter to abandon LaForgue because he witnessed it in his dream. (Black Robe) However, when LaForgue finally reaches the Huron’s it is evident that they too were strong in their faith. It is clear that they did not want to accept Christianity because they murdered one of the French inhabitants that were there in the beginning. (Black Robe) Despite the Huron’s resistance, they eventually accepted father LaForgue and Christianity because he was honest and loving towards the Huron’s.
LaForgue was able to reveal the previous inhabitants lie to the Huron’s that baptism will cure their disease by saying it wouldn’t and be honest to the Huron’s to gain their respect, as well as their trust. Throughout the film there is always tension between the Indians and father LaForgue based on his ethnicity and more importantly his religion. However, a cultural rapprochement is reached between LaForgue and the Huron’s towards the end of the movie. This is evident when LaForgue finally reaches the settlement and sees that the Huron’s are lost and hopeless because they are slowly dying due to disease.
Seeing how weak they are, LaForgue is asked by the Huron’s many questions to solidify his presence in the settlement. LaForgue eventually tells them the truth about the baptizing and that he loves all of them, even though he was mistreated and abandoned by the other Indians. When LaForgue is asked the question if he loves them, he flashes back on all the faces of the Indians he encountered on his voyage and he also reaches a cultural rapprochement with the Huron’s, and all the other Indians, by saying he loves them. With that response, the Huron’s accept LaForgue, and Christianity, and are baptized at the end of the film. (Black Robe)
Although throughout the film it is evident that the Indians, such as the Iroquois and Algonquin, reject Christianity because it goes against their own beliefs, the Huron’s were able to go against their own beliefs and accept Christianity. The Huron’s were able to accept Christianity because of the perception father LaForgue gave off and his humbleness he evokes in the settlement, the Huron’s respective chauvinism begins to change as they forego their own religion and accept Christianity through father LaForgue, and a cultural rapprochement is evident when father LaForgue arrives at the settlement and baptizes the Huron’s.