Lothaire Bluteau is Laforgue, a priest in 1634 Quebec who’s determined to help bring religion to the Huron nation,
Champlain, the Frenchmen in charge of the burgeoning settlement, questions the wisdom of the journey.
It’ll mean a 1,500-mile canoe trip with winter setting in. It seems like certain death.
But Laforque is determined, and Father Bourgue, head of the Jesuit priests in New France, gives the trip his blessing.
A young laborer named Daniel (Aden Young), who might be interested in the priesthood, will go along.
And Laforgue will have a small party of Albonquin Indians, with Chomina (August Schellenberg) as their leader, to guide the way.
Complication arise when Daniel falls in love with Chomina’s daughter Annuka (Sandrine Holt).
And again when Chomina has a dream that leads him to believe Laforgue might be more demon than priest.
But those problems pale in comparison to what the Irogouis have planned should they catch up with Laforgue and his companions.
Lothaire Bluteau as Laforgue, determined to make a dangerous winter journey to a Huron village 1,500 miles from Quebec in Black Robe (1991)
Adem Young as Daniel, the young Frenchman who decides to accompany Laforgue in Black Robe (1991)
Review:
A fabulous looking film that scores bonus points for its unique subject matter and its handling of that subject.
Laforgue’s dedication to his faith, even when it might cost him his life, is certainly admirable.
But his character is contrasted with Daniel, who choses love over faith and openly questions why the Indians would want to become Christians.
They already have their own religion, he notes. And they behave in a more Christian-like manner than most whites.
The film won several awards in Canada, including best picture and best direction for 1991.
It also marked the film debuts of Aden Young and Sandrine Holt, who play the young lovers.
August Schellenberg as Chomina, determined to complete his mission in Black Robe (1991)
Sandrine Holt as Annuka, glancing back as the Algonquins leave the French behind in Black Rode (1991)
Directed by:
Bruce Beresford
Cast:
Lothaire Bluteau … Laforgue
Aden Young … Daniel
Sandrine Holt … Annuka
August Schellenberg … Chomina
Tantoo Cardinal … Chomina’s wife
Billy Two Rivers … Ougebmat
Lawrence Bayne … Neehatin
Harrison Liu … Awondole
Wesley Cote … Oujita
Frank Wilson … Father Jerome
Francois Tasse … Father Bourgue
Jean Brousseau … Champlain
Yvan Labelle … Mestigoit
Raoul Max Trujillo … Koitseaton
James Bobbish … Ondesson
Denis Lacroix … Taratande
Runtime: 101 min.
Yvan Labelle as Mestigoit, the medicine man who decides Laforgue must be a demon in Black Robe (1991)
Tantoo Cardinal as Chomina’s wife, sensing trouble in the woods in Black Robe (1991)
Memorable lines:
Champlain: “Fifteen hundred miles by canoe in that country, at the beginning of the winter, death is almost certain, Father Bourge.”
Father Bourge: “Death is not always a great evil, Monsier Champlain.”
Annuka to Daniel: “My father says nothing you French do makes sense.”
Laforgue: “I’m afraid of this country. The devil rules here. He controls the hearts and minds of these poor people.”
Daniel: “But they are true Christians. They live for each other. They forgive things we would never forgive.”
Laforgue: “The devil makes them resist the truth of our teachings.”
Daniel: “Why should they believe them? They have an after-world of their own.”
Laforgue: “When I die, I will go to paradise. Let me baptize you, and you will go there also.”
Chomina: “Why would I go to your paradise? Are my people there? My woman? My boy? It is only black robes.”
The Irogouois chief who plans to torture his white and Algonquin captives in Black Robe (1991)
Jean Brousseau as Champlain, leader of the French settlement in Quebec who makes the arrangements for Laforgue’s trip in Black Robe (1991)
Francois Tasse as Father Bourgue, assuring Champlain that Laforgue knows the danger he faces in Black Robe (1991)
Frank Wilson as Father Jerome, the only remaining white at the Huron mission when Laforgue arrives in Black Robe (1991)
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