Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Mission
The underscoring music in The Mission helps to clue the audience into the emotional state of the characters in the film. For example, when the woman tells Mendoza that she doesn't love him, a twangy guitar and low strings underscoring begins to play, symbolizing his heartbreak. Also, when Mendoza kills his brother, the music immediately changes to soft and slow music, implying his immediate remorse for what he has done. Probably the most powerful example of music implying a character's thoughts and emotions is when the pope approaches Father Gabriel's mission. There is chanting and upbeat tribal musical music heard which creates an almost magical feeling for the audience and also helps to express the pope's awe and respect for the native people and what the Jesuits have accomplished.
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I agree. The music in the Mission really helps imply the psychological feelings of the character. When Father Gabriel seems to be in turmoil over upcoming attack on the natives, the viewer can tell he is upset and unsure what to do because the music represents this. The underscoring is disjunct to represents his unsettled state of mind. Also, when Rodriquez is carrying his large bag of heavy equipment up to the mission, the viewer can understand his emotions. The music fits his angry, sad, pained mood, the music is dark and sad also. The music represents the "penance" and Rodriquez's pain over it.
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