Plot

In the 17th century, a Jesuit missionary nicknamed Black Robe by the natives and his small party of companions try reaching the Huron tribe in Canada all while facing mistrust, Iroquois warring parties and harsh winter conditions.

1634, New France. Nearing the onset of winter, French Jesuit priest Father Laforgue, one of the younger ones in the settlement founded by explorer Samuel de Champlain, is embarking on a journey estimated to be 1,500 miles largely by canoe, to discover what happened to the missionary settlement meant to convert the Huron to Christianity. He is accompanied by non-Jesuit laborer Daniel, who hopes, from this experience, to be able to work toward being ordained upon returning to France, and a tribe of Algonquins who are acting as his guides, not only in navigating the geography, but arguably more importantly liaising with other indigenous tribes they will ultimately encounter along the way. Champlain himself and the older priests in the settlement view this mission as one from which Laforgue will never return alive. One of the reasons is the general distrust between the Jesuits and the indigenous population, even the generally peaceful Algonquin, some who consider Laforgue a demon in not understanding his rituals around his faith. Conversely, Laforgue does not try to understand his guides, but rather know their rituals so as to at least work with them. While the Jesuits live by their faith in a global sense, the indigenous tribes have their own faith largely tied to a sense of place, which will affect what happens between Laforgue and the Algonquin on the trek. Another issue is the enemy status between some of the tribes, especially the Iroquois, with those tribes arguably having a difficult time losing what has long been their kill or be killed mentality. Adding to the complications is Daniel falling in love with Annuka, an Algonquin, their relationship which only makes Laforgue question his own faith.—Huggo

In the 17th century a Jesuit priest nicknamed Black Robe by the natives and his young companion are escorted through the wilderness of Quebec by a family of Algonquin Indians to find a distant mission in the dead of winter. Underneath the imposing and magnificent mountains, the Jesuit experiences a spiritual journey while his young companion falls in love with their Algonquin guide's beautiful daughter. Dread and death follows them upriver, however, as they face an Iroquois war party. Based on historical fiction novel.—Keith Loh <[email protected]>

The film is set in Quebec, New France, 1634. Captain Champlain(Jean Brousseau) approves a proposal by the Jesuits to travel up the St. Lawrence River and restablish contact with a Jesuit mission in the Huron nation. A young Jesuit is chosen to lead the expedition, Father Laforgue(Lothaire Bluteau). Daniel(Aden Young), a young Frenchman working in the outpost is also chosen after he expresses an interest in returning to France and entering the priesthood. Champlain uses pots, knives, hammers and beads to barter for the services of Chomina(August Schellenberg), an Algonquin, to take the men to the Huron mission. Chomina brings his wife(Tantoo Cardinal), young son, and daughter, Annuka(Sandrine Holt), as well as several other men and their families. The group departs and heads up river, but turmoil soon engulfs the expedition. Several of the men fear Laforgue and believe he might be a demon, they employ a sorcerer, who verifies their fears. The group contemplate killing Laforgue, but settle on abandoning him. Daniel, who has grown to love Annuka during the journey, also abandons Laforgue. Laforgue resigns himself to die in the wilderness if it is Gods will. Chomina has a change of heart and returns with his family and Daniel to continue the journey with Laforgue. However, Iroquois discover them and kill Chominas wife before capturing the others. They brutally torture the group, killing Chominas son out-of-hand. Annuka sacrifices her dignity to free the group. They head upriver, but Chomina is now dying, due to wounds received in the encounter with the Iroqouis. Chomina wants to die peacefully, but Laforgue begs him to convert. He sends them on their way, still unbaptised. Annuka and Daniel take Laforgue still further, before leaving him within walking distance of the Huron settlement. When Laforgue enters the settlement, he finds the Hurons are decimated by scarlet fever. One of the missionaries has been killed and the other is dying. The Hurons debate on whether or not to kill Laforgue, some believe the fever is a curse, others that baptisim will cure the sickness. Finally, Laforgue baptizes the entire settlement. An epilogue describes the almost immediate collapse of the Huron nation and its defeat at the hands of the Iroqouis.