Black Robe with Lothaire Bluteau: DVD Cover

    Black Robe Director: Bruce Beresford Cast: Lothaire Bluteau, Aden Young, Sandrine Holt, August Schellenberg

    DVD - Wide Screen Learn more

    BUY THIS ITEM

    • $14.99 Online price
      $13.49 Member price
      Join Now
      • skip to cart
    • Add To List uiAction=GetAllLists&page=List&pageType=list&ean=031398678533&productCode=DV&maxCount=100&threshold=3

    GET FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OF $25 OR MORE

    DELIVERY & GIFT DETAILS:

    Usually ships within 24 hours

    Delivery Time and Shipping Rates

    Eligible for gift wrap & gift message.

    Enter a zip code

    • DVD Release Date: 07/08/1998
    • Original Release: 1991
    • Rating: Rated R
    • Sales Rank: 8,645

    Viewer Rating: (5 ratings)

    See All Detailed Ratings

     
    • Overview
    • Editorial Reviews
    • Scenes
    • Customer Reviews
    • Cast & Crew
    • Full Product Details

    Scenes

    Features

    Closed Caption; Theatrical trailer; Cast and crew information

    Full Product Details

    Scene Index

    Disc #1, Side A -- Black Robe
    1. Main Credits [2:08]
    2. Quebec [3:29]
    3. The Clock [2:46]
    4. Ceremonies [4:35]
    5. Savages [4:29]
    6. Writing [3:50]
    7. Voyeur [3:55]
    8. Relaxing [6:05]
    9. Crow [4:40]
    10. Saints [3:15]
    11. Lost [3:30]
    12. Souls [5:24]
    13. Alone [6:29]
    14. Thanks [4:53]
    15. Gauntlet [4:39]
    16. Singing [3:32]
    17. Animals [5:15]
    18. Escape [4:20]
    19. Warrior [5:07]
    20. Farewells [2:52]
    21. Fever [4:01]
    22. Confession [3:28]
    23. Water Sorcery [4:24]
    24. End Credits [3:38]
    Disc #1, Side B -- Black Robe
    1. Main Credits [2:08]
    2. Quebec [3:29]
    3. The Clock [2:46]
    4. Ceremonies [4:35]
    5. Savages [4:29]
    6. Writing [3:50]
    7. Voyeur [3:55]
    8. Relaxing [6:05]
    9. Crow [4:40]
    10. Saints [3:15]
    11. Lost [3:30]
    12. Souls [5:24]
    13. Alone [6:29]
    14. Thanks [4:53]
    15. Gauntlet [4:39]
    16. Singing [3:32]
    17. Animals [5:15]
    18. Escape [4:20]
    19. Warrior [5:07]
    20. Farewells [2:52]
    21. Fever [4:01]
    22. Confession [3:28]
    23. Water Sorcery [4:24]
    24. End Credits [3:38]

    Scene Index

    Editorial Reviews

    Adapted by Brian Moore from his own novel, The Black Robe is a sprawling recreation of a turbelent period in Canadian history. In 1634, Jesuit missionary Father Laforgue (Lothair Bluteau) arrives in the New World, hoping to convert the Huron Indian tribe to Catholicism-and, incidentally, to expedite the French colonization of Quebec. Laforgue is regarded with a combination of warmth and wariness by the natives, who refer to Laforgue and his fellow priests as "black robes." Offering his services as both guide and friend is Algonquin chief Chomina (August Schellenberg). The by-the-book Laforgue does little to endear himself to the Indians-one of whom, a holy man, labels the priest as a demon who will bring nothing but death and destruction. The one who suffers most is Chomina, the man who most desires peaceful coexistence. In an ironic coda, we learn that the "black robes" have set into motion the fall of the Hurons, simply by imposing their Christian values upon them. Black Robe has been compared to Dances with Wolves, but the films do not share the same philosophy: while the idealistic hero of Wolves strives to understand and appreciate his new Indian comrades, the pious protagonist of Black Robe has only conversion in mind. Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

    Customer Reviews

    Black Robeby Anonymous

    Reader Rating:
    See Detailed Ratings

    July 08, 2006: Often Black Robe is unfortunately compared to Dances With Wolves. Black Robe was much more truthful and ultimately more disturbing. This movie does not play the overly politically correct version as films like Dances with Wolves, but it also doesn't curtail to John Ford films, either. A very impressive film about clash of cultures that lead to the genocide of North America's indigenous population. Also doesn't shy away from some of the brutal practices of the Native American.

    This review was written about the DVD Wide Screen / Dolby 5.1 / Stereo edition.

    Black Robeby Anonymous

    Reader Rating:
    See Detailed Ratings

    September 17, 2004: This film could easily be about the huge moral issues surrounding a story of Jesuit missionaries and Huron people, but it's really about what that story would have looked and felt like. The moral issues take a back seat to the contrasts between natural beauty and human squalor, or the differences between spiritual ideals and the brutality of earthly existence. The film is so eerily realistic it's like having a camcorder present in history. No detail is omitted and no subject too sacred---we even see the priest needing to defecate from a paddled canoe, to the great amusement of onlookers. An enormous amount of research and fact-checking must have taken place, and the director is extra-careful to remind the viewer at every opportunity just how harsh things were in a Canadian frontier of the 17th century. And for anybody who sits through this film expecting some form of moral redemption at its conclusion, don't bother---the end is a hammer blow. I haven't read the novel, but I bet director Bruce Beresford is as faithful to the author's vision as it's possible to be. This is a film of uncommon integrity and honesty. Be warned.

    This review was written about the DVD Wide Screen / Dolby 5.1 / Stereo edition.


    More Customer Reviews