The Indians, who went to Flangis
thought there was a city of gold
QUEBEC, NORTH AMERICA, 1634.
In the South there is a city of gold.
My brother saw it.
Tramblé
Look at these, Tramblé.
Where did you trap them, Sainte Marie?
In the forest.
It's my secret, Tramblé.
And how do you pay the Indian trappers?
With knives, father, with cooking pots
with brandy and whiskey, I am told, with brandy.
And what if there is no mission?
What if your Father Laforgue arrives
to find yet another two Jesuit martyrs?
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
It's not we.
It's Father Laforgue who must cross it.
Has he journeyed far from this settlement?
Even in good weather?
He's been studying the Huron and Algonquin languages.
He's very dedicated and devout.
Of course.
Even I have been on these journeys, Monsieur Champlain
from the lakes of Hurons to the rivers of Maine
- and now - We are too old.
- Perhaps younger men are more suitable. - Perhaps. Perhaps not.
1500 miles by canoe.
In that country
at the beginning of the winter
death is almost certain, father Bourque.
Death is not always a great evil, Monsieur Champlain.
God should have made me a Jesuit, to have answers for everything.
He must paddle with them, 12 hours a day
or they will not respect him.
He must smile and not show anger.
He must carry a pack animal's loads on his back as they do.
The journey, like our lives, is in God's hands.
Look at them. The English and the Dutch are colonists.
We have priests.
Who would want to bring a woman here!
And have kids running half wild in the woods!
We are starving in winter.
- Good afternoon, father. - Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, father.
- Do you think they're going upriver? - Who cares?
As long as I am not going.
Leave the forest to the savages.
Remember that priest who came back like that?
It was the Iroquois. They caught him.
That was just fingers.
One might lose something that is more useful.
Why do you want to accompany Father Laforgue?
For the greater glory of God.
Indeed?
I am told you're bored in this settlement.
Sometimes a little:
To come all this way and to just build huts...
I understand.
Can you read and write?
Yes, father. I was taught by my uncle, who was a priest in Tour.
He speaks it more fluently than I do.
If we send you, and if
when you return
you could go to France to study for the priesthood
would that please you, Daniel?
Yes, father.
These are our fathers.
They are soldiers of heaven.
They left their friends and their country
to show you the way to Paradise.
Chomin
I entrust to you Father Laforgue
who is journeying into the land of Herons.
Love and honor him.
Guard him well.
Look at him, dressed like a savage Chieftan.
We are not colonizing the Indians.
- They are colonizing us. - Not me, they are not.
I am not becoming one of those wild woods men.
In one more year I am going back to France.
How are you?
Are any of us?
If winter doesn't kill us, the Indians might.
If they don't, it could be the English.
So keep your faith.
I made that point with you, God in mind.
Good morning.
You are...
- Paul Laforgue. - You have to serve my mass?
I am the priest of New France.
The savages did this to me.
Indians? But why?
They are uncivilized
just as the English or the Germans were
before we took our faith to them.
In a few weeks
I will be returning.
Returning to New France?
The savages live in total darkness.
We must convert them.
What more glorious task than that, Paul?
What more glorious task?
Black Robe, what are you doing?
I'm making words.
Words?
You do not speak.
I'll show you.
- Tell me something. - Tell what?
Something I do not know.
My woman's mother
died in snow last winter.
Last winter, Chomin's wife mother
died in the snow.
I have still other greater things that I can teach you.
Father
I did not mean any disrespect
but do you have any doubts?
What about?
Them. These people.
If we change them.
If we do not change them, how could they enter Heaven?
Intelligence is not lacking among these people.
He speaks only Algonquin, father.
What is the meaning of that word?
You love that tobacco more than you love us.
What can I do? I know that.
He will ask and ask until they have
everything we brought with us.
Father, they do not understand.
They share everything without question.
Then they should question.
They plan nothing, but think only of the moment:
hunting foods...
Go and get the tobacco, Daniel.
They say it's soothing once you become used to it.
That may take some time.
They don't seem to be very happy, father.
They should be. I have told them the truth.
So charming, Mademoiselle Lafontaine
and so attractive.
So modest.
She is from a very good family.
What do you think they are talking about, father?
I don't know.
Of us?
Mother, what are you doing?
Praying to Saint Joan.
Perhaps God has chosen you, as he chose her.
You must not compare me to a saint, mother.
In New France you will remember me in your prayers?
I always do.
God will hear your prayer.
He has chosen you to die for Him.
I will never see you again.
I'm afraid, Lord.
I don't welcome death
as a holy person should.
Daniel?
I too have committed the sin of the flesh.
Do you, father?
In France, long ago?
No, here:
sin of intent.
Here.
I've lusted after her.
Kneel with me
and say an act of contrition.
Father, life is not so simple for the rest of us.
I am not a Jesuit.
You said you wanted to serve God.
Yes, father, but I
I'm afraid of this country.
The Devil rules here
controls the hearts and minds
of these poor people.
But they are true Christians. They live for each other.
They forgive things we would not forgive.
The Devil makes them resist the truth of our teachings.
Why should they believe them?
They have an after world of their own.
They have no concept of one.
Annuka has told me
they believe that, in the forest at night, the dead can see.
Souls of men hunt the souls of animals.
Is that what she told you? It's childish, Daniel.
Is it harder to believe in a paradise
where we all sit on the clouds with a good God?
Black Robe.
Oh, God of mercy
please bless this innocent child.
Where are my paddlers? You promised.
You go with your own mission to the Hurons, alone, Black Robe.
Ask your Jesus to help you, Black Robe.
Lord
if it be Thy wish that I suffer greater tribulations
in the days ahead
I welcome it.
Thou has given me this cross for thy honor
for the salvation of these poor barbarians.
I thank Thee.
Father, forgive me.
What for?
For the things I said to you
for leaving you.
God is with us. He is the one who forgives us.
Sing.
Sing!
The arrowhead is still there.
If we try to remove it you will die.
You want to be one of us?
What do you think now?
The Iroquois are not men. They are animals.
They're the same as us or Hurons.
If they showed pity others will say that they are weak.
Tomorrow
do not cry out.
If we do cry out, will they stop?
No. They would not stop.
But if you cry out when you die
they will have your spirit.
When I die, Chomin, I will go to Paradise.
Let me baptize you so you will go there also.
Why would I go to your paradise?
Are my people there?
My wife? My son? There's only Black Robes there.
We go downstream to my people.
No. We go upstream to the Huron mission.
You're so weak, the Iroquois could easily catch you
and they would not expect you to travel away from your people.
You're not so stupid, Black Robe.
Lord, I beg you
show your mercy to these savage people
who will never look upon Your face in Paradise.
Tell me, Black Robe:
What does your dreams see now?
I'm too weary for dreams.
But you must.
If you do not, how do you see the way that lies ahead?
I trust in God.
He will guide me all the way to Paradise.
You have not seen this paradise.
No man should welcome death.
This world is a cruel place
but it has the sunlight.
I'm sorry that I should leave now.
Chomin, do you hear me? My God loves you.
If you accept His love, he will admit you to Paradise.
I'll go with you, father.
You must stay with her.
She has lost everything because of us.
She needs you more than I do.
We will do what she ask.
What can we say to people who thinks that dreams are the real world
and this one is an illusion?
Perhaps they're right.
Goodbye, Father Laforgue.
No Farewells
not in this land
and no greetings, no names.
The forests speak.
The dead talk at night.
God bless you both.
Father?
Who are you?
I'm Father Laforgue.
How many are with you?
I am alone.
Some months ago that fever struck this village.
The Indians thought that we brought it to punish
those who would not accept our faith.
Many died.
One man who lost his child killed father Duval.
What are they all doing now?
Who knows what the savages will do?
Who knows what they think?
Even after 20 years I still do not understand them.
They would probably torture and kill us both.
But what about those converts?
We must have some influence.
Converts? Perhaps there are no converts.
Our only hope is that some believe
that baptism will cure their fever.
If they ask for baptism
we must have a great public ceremony at once.
Father Jerome
shouldn't we...
I mean
Should they not understand our faith
before accepting it?
Understand?
But they are in danger of death
and we are offering them a place in Paradise.
Father, death may be near.
Will you hear my confession?
If you will hear mine.
Bless me, father, for I have sinned.
Lord
why is Father Jerome with you in Heaven
while Chomin lies forever in utter darkness?
Help me.
Demon! Why are you here?
I am not a demon.
I take the place of Father Jérome.
- Is he dead? - Yes.
How long will you stay?
All of my life.
If we take the water sorcery
we will not be sick?
Baptism does not cure you.
The other Black Robe said so.
He meant only that we must ask the help of Jesus.
Perhaps He will answer your prayers.
Many want to kill you, Black Robe.
I know.
A demon cannot feel pain.
Are you a man?
Yes.
You must help us, Black Robe.
Do you love us?
- Yes. - Then baptize us.
Spare them.
Spare them, oh Lord.