"Are you Laughing at me?" (Rodrigo Mendoza, The Mission)

 The word "redemption" implies a heavy meaning.  The definition, according to diccionary.com says that is is :deliverance, resucue, an atonement for guilt.  Redemption can come physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  In the 1986 film, "The Mission", this is a common thread all throughout the script and is displayed in several charaters.

   Rodrigo Mendoza is one of the characters that i feel most effectively demonstrates this.  One of the first lenghty scenes we see him in is when he kills his brother.  Its is obvious that he has a temper, as shown in this clip . . .

   I am aware that this video is in Spanish, but it highlights what to me is acritical point.  When Rodrigo walks past the group of men and one chuckles in his direction, Rodrigo accusingly asks, "se rio?" meaning, did you laugh at me?  What seems to get him really mad is that someone was laughing at him.  This behavior is evidenced again when Father Gabriel goes to Rodrigo's jail cell offering his help.  At one point, Rodrigo springs off of his chair and again asks angrily if Father Gabriel laughed at him. 

   I didn't think too much about Rodrigo's apparant demise for laughter until he climbed the falls with his huge load and comes to the point where he realizes that he feels forgiven.

   I too, could feel like Rodrigo was had finally graped that forgiveness and internal peace he was seeking through serving this penance of carring the armor up the falls.  When did i feel it?  When the Guarani started laughing at Rodrigo.  Not only did he just let it go, but it almost appears that he himself, starts laughing along with him.  In that moment, i realized that Rodrigo was feeling some Godly sorry and could sincerely knew he had received forgiveness for his actions.  He had finally met all the necessary requirements to obtain that kind of happiness.

   In this same clip, I was reminded of Jesus Christ, and how he is always there to pick us up in these moments, just as Father Gabriel was there for Rodrigo.  Why is redemption so important?  Why do we even bother with it?  Could it be for the feelings of relief, joy and peace that come as they did to Rodrigo?  I'm sure the feelings are different for everyone but that they can also relate.  Just as this idea of redemtion is an underlying theme in the movie, so it is and will be for the rest of our lives.  Whether we are religious or not, we will all come to apoint where we seek forgiveness from God, a loved one we have hurt, or maybe most of all from ourselves.