74
Metascore
12 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90Los Angeles TimesRobert AbeleLos Angeles TimesRobert AbeleIn its voices tinged with sorrow and re-examined history, this expertly tuned film is simply pro-introspection: a heavy-hearted look at an unnecessary death and a cultural superiority long deserving of scrutiny.
- 83IndieWireChristian ZilkoIndieWireChristian ZilkoThe first half of The Mission is triumphant, offering a multitude of thought-provoking ways to approach a tragedy. But with so many fascinating angles at their disposal, it’s unfortunate that Moss and McBaine didn’t take a bigger swing with their ending.
- 83The PlaylistRodrigo PerezThe PlaylistRodrigo PerezAs an intriguing and complex portrait of humanism vs. idealism (to be civil about it), there’s also a fine line between faith and madness, and to their credit, The Mission filmmakers leave it up to the audience to decide where they stand; perhaps the sign of sharp filmmakers hoping to leave their viewer hashing it out for hours afterward (something that doc certainly engenders).
- 80Screen DailyAllan HunterScreen DailyAllan HunterThe Mission is a thoughtful, fair-minded exploration of what motivated Chau, and also spreads out to confront bigger questions on the legacy of colonialism, the delusions of white saviour narratives and the thin line between faith and fantasy.
- 80Wall Street JournalKyle SmithWall Street JournalKyle SmithIt’s a hefty, substantial, at times dizzying experience despite lacking some elements that might have elevated it to the highest levels of its form.
- 80The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Anne T. DonahueThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Anne T. DonahueAnthropologists, former missionaries and Chau’s friends offer valuable perspectives – and prompt viewers to examine their own roles in perpetuating ages-old saviour complexes. The Mission’s message is as timely as it is timeless, tragically.
- 75RogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzRogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzFor its near-miss moments, the inside-out approach of The Mission results in a richer film than one might have expected from reading the summary on a streaming menu.
- 70The New York TimesBen KenigsbergThe New York TimesBen KenigsbergThe most barbed aspect of the movie, a National Geographic release, is its acknowledgment of the role that National Geographic itself has played in exoticizing groups like the North Sentinelese.
- 70The Hollywood ReporterLovia GyarkyeThe Hollywood ReporterLovia GyarkyeAmanda McBaine and Jesse Moss’ The Mission is an empathetic and reconstructive portrait propelled by questions surrounding Chau’s voyage.