WHERE THE RIVER RUNS BLACK
US, 1986, 92 minutes, Colour.
Charles Durning, Peter Horton, Dana Delany.
Directed by Christopher Cain.
Where the River Runs Black is a story of missionaries in Brazil. It was released at the same time as The Mission. Subsequent films about missionaries include Black Robe, as well as films about Brazil including Medicine Man and At Play in the Fields of the Lord.
The film focuses on a priest, the mission superior, played by Charles Durning. In his visit to a young priest (Peter Horton) he rejects the possibility for building schools and hospitals. The priest is frustrated in his work, has a sexual encounter with a young woman who is associated with stories about dolphins. He is then killed by a large snake in the water. Myths grow up about his son, the dolphin boy in the jungle, and Charles Durning goes to rescue him after his mother is killed by ruthless developers moving into the forest. The film also shows the young boy, a wild child (echoes of Greystoke) in an orphanage run by rather severe sisters (Conchata Ferrell as the superior, Dana Delaney more sympathetic as Sister Ana). When a local politician campaigns for office, the boy realises that he is the murderer of his mother and leaves the orphanage and tries to kill the official. His young friend is taken by the official and questioned and tortured. Together they go into the jungle. When they are attacked by one of the henchmen who tries to drown them in the river, a dolphin attacks the killer and Charles Durning hesitates to rescue him. He feels the need to confess this and his confession is the framework of the film.
The film was directed by Christopher Cain (Stone Boy, Young Guns, That Was Then, This Is Now). Music is by James Horner. However, the film was made entirely on locations in Brazil.
1.Story of Brazil? Modern missionaries? Exploiters and developers in Brazil? The role of the church? The future of the people?
2.The Brazilian locations, city, river, jungle, outlying mission stations? Musical score?
3.The title, the focus of the myths about the dolphins, the woman, the missionary's death and the boy?
4.The focus on the priest, his missionary work, his entering the church, going to confession? His voice-over telling the story? His action and his judgment on himself? His concern about the missions, going to visit Father Mahoney, playing draughts, sociable - yet rejecting his plans for the developments at the mission? His concern about the city? His return, hearing about the myths? Going to rescue the boy? Bringing him back, taking him to the orphanage, watching him and urging him to eat and drink? His going back to the orphanage to see the boy's progress? The boy's escape, his looking for him? Coming across him in the jungle, the boy's being drowned - his hesitation when the dolphin attacked the killer? His concern and confession? The effect of Mahoney and the boy on his life, perspective on his work in Brazil?
5.Mahoney, the young and enthusiastic missionary, the engineer? Isolated? Not being visited for 18 months? Hospitality, the failure of persuading the priest about the developments? Burning the model? The attraction to the girl - and the overtone of the myths of the siren? The sexual encounter, his death?
6.The boy, his mother's love for him, bringing him up, a jungle boy? Wild child? At home in the water, the dolphins, the alligators? The developers, their cruelty, the death of his mother? In the jungle? Taken to the orphanage? His fears, eating and drinking? Making friends with Segundo? The chase around the dormitory, mopping the floor and playing with the boys? Learning? Settling down, the talks with the priest, the outing? Hearing about his father, remembering his mother? Seeing the politician, the decision to escape, going with Segundo? The attempt at killing the politician? The taking of Segundo? Following him, rescuing him in the jungle? The pursuit? The attempted drowning? His going off into the jungle - the boy of myths? The boy on the dolphin?
7.The politician, the background of the developers, their cruelty, destroying the children, killing the mother? Political campaigns, promises? The large cheque to the mother superior? The confrontation by the boy? The angers and resentment of the people against the exploiters?
8.The superior, her running of the orphanage, autocratic? Treatment of the boys? Clash with the priest? Receiving the cheque from the politician? The contrast with Sister Ana and her sympathetic teaching of the boy?
9.A portrait of Brazil and its problems? Children of the jungle, forced into the cities, children of the street? The role of the church, the missions? Developments in the city, in the villages? The dedication of the missionaries? Religious motivation? Power and authority? Isolation? Celibacy and sexual attraction? The need for sympathy and understanding?
