The Mission (1986 film)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:58:53 PM Wikipedia source
The Mission is a 1986 British historical drama film about the experiences of a Jesuit missionary in 18th-century South America. Directed by Roland Joffé and written by Robert Bolt, the film stars Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Ray McAnally, Aidan Quinn, Cherie Lunghi and Liam Neeson. The film premiered in competition at the 39th Cannes Film Festival, winning the Palme d'Or. At the 59th Academy Awards, it was nominated for seven awards including Best Picture and Best Director, winning for Best Cinematography. The film has also been cited as one of the greatest religious films of all time, appearing in the Vatican film list's "Religion" section and being number one on the Church Times's Top 50 Religious Films list.
Infobox
Directed by
Roland Joffé
Written by
Robert Bolt
Produced by
mw- Fernando Ghia David Puttnam Máximo Berrondo
Starring
Robert De Niro Jeremy Irons
Cinematography
Chris Menges
Edited by
Jim Clark
Music by
Ennio Morricone
Productioncompanies
Goldcrest FilmsKingsmereEnigma Productions
Distributed by
Warner Bros. (United States, United Kingdom and Mexico)Goldcrest Films (Overseas)
Release dates
16 May 1986 (1986-05-16) (Cannes) 31 October 1986 (1986-10-31) (United States)
Running time
125 minutes
Countries
United KingdomUnited States
Languages
English Latin Guaraní
Budget
£16.5 million
Box office
$17.2 million
Country
United Kingdom
Tables
· Awards and honours
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee(s)
Fernando Ghia and David Puttnam
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Roland Joffé
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Award
Best Art Direction
Category
Stuart Craig and Jack Stephens
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Chris Menges
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Enrico Sabbatini
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Award
Best Film Editing
Category
Jim Clark
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Award
Best Original Score
Category
Ennio Morricone
Nominee(s)
Nominated
American Cinema Editors Awards
American Cinema Editors Awards
Award
American Cinema Editors Awards
Category
Best Edited Feature Film
Nominee(s)
Jim Clark
Result
Nominated
American Society of Cinematographers Awards
American Society of Cinematographers Awards
Award
American Society of Cinematographers Awards
Category
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases
Nominee(s)
Chris Menges
Result
Nominated
Association of Polish Filmmakers Critics Awards
Association of Polish Filmmakers Critics Awards
Award
Association of Polish Filmmakers Critics Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominee(s)
Roland Joffé
Result
Won
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Fernando Ghia, David Puttnam, and Roland Joffé
Result
Nominated
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Category
Roland Joffé
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Award
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Category
Ray McAnally
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Screenplay – Original
Best Screenplay – Original
Award
Best Screenplay – Original
Category
Robert Bolt
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Chris Menges
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Enrico Sabbatini
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Category
Jim Clark
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Award
Best Original Score
Category
Ennio Morricone
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Production Design
Best Production Design
Award
Best Production Design
Category
Stuart Craig
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Award
Best Sound
Category
Ian Fuller, Bill Rowe, and Clive Winter
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Special Visual Effects
Best Special Visual Effects
Award
Best Special Visual Effects
Category
Peter Hutchinson
Nominee(s)
Nominated
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
Award
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
Category
Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film
Nominee(s)
Chris Menges
Result
Nominated
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Award
Cannes Film Festival
Category
Palme d'Or
Nominee(s)
Roland Joffé
Result
Won
Technical Grand Prize
Technical Grand Prize
Award
Technical Grand Prize
Category
Won
César Awards
César Awards
Award
César Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
David di Donatello Awards
David di Donatello Awards
Award
David di Donatello Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Foreign Actor
Best Foreign Actor
Award
Best Foreign Actor
Category
Jeremy Irons
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Foreign Producer
Best Foreign Producer
Award
Best Foreign Producer
Category
Fernando Ghia and David Puttnam
Nominee(s)
Won
Evening Standard British Film Awards
Evening Standard British Film Awards
Award
Evening Standard British Film Awards
Category
Best Actor
Nominee(s)
Ray McAnally (also for No Surrender)
Result
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Robert Bolt
Nominee(s)
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Category
Jeremy Irons
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Director – Motion Picture
Best Director – Motion Picture
Award
Best Director – Motion Picture
Category
Roland Joffé
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Award
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Category
Robert Bolt
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Award
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Category
Ennio Morricone
Nominee(s)
Won
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Cinematography
Nominee(s)
Chris Menges
Result
Won
Best Music Score
Best Music Score
Award
Best Music Score
Category
Ennio Morricone
Nominee(s)
Runner-up
Nastro d'Argento
Nastro d'Argento
Award
Nastro d'Argento
Category
Best Foreign Actor
Nominee(s)
Robert De Niro
Result
Nominated
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Top Ten Films
Nominee(s)
10th Place
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Cinematographer
Nominee(s)
Chris Menges
Result
3rd Place
Turkish Film Critics Association Awards
Turkish Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Turkish Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominee(s)
3rd Place
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | Fernando Ghia and David Puttnam | Nominated |
| Best Director | Roland Joffé | Nominated | |
| Best Art Direction | Stuart Craig and Jack Stephens | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Chris Menges | Won | |
| Best Costume Design | Enrico Sabbatini | Nominated | |
| Best Film Editing | Jim Clark | Nominated | |
| Best Original Score | Ennio Morricone | Nominated | |
| American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Feature Film | Jim Clark | Nominated |
| American Society of Cinematographers Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases | Chris Menges | Nominated |
| Association of Polish Filmmakers Critics Awards | Best Foreign Film | Roland Joffé | Won |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Film | Fernando Ghia, David Puttnam, and Roland Joffé | Nominated |
| Best Direction | Roland Joffé | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Ray McAnally | Won | |
| Best Screenplay – Original | Robert Bolt | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Chris Menges | Nominated | |
| Best Costume Design | Enrico Sabbatini | Nominated | |
| Best Editing | Jim Clark | Won | |
| Best Original Score | Ennio Morricone | Won | |
| Best Production Design | Stuart Craig | Nominated | |
| Best Sound | Ian Fuller, Bill Rowe, and Clive Winter | Nominated | |
| Best Special Visual Effects | Peter Hutchinson | Nominated | |
| British Society of Cinematographers Awards | Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film | Chris Menges | Nominated |
| Cannes Film Festival | Palme d'Or | Roland Joffé | Won |
| Technical Grand Prize | Won | ||
| César Awards | Best Foreign Film | Nominated | |
| David di Donatello Awards | Best Foreign Film | Nominated | |
| Best Foreign Actor | Jeremy Irons | Nominated | |
| Best Foreign Producer | Fernando Ghia and David Puttnam | Won | |
| Evening Standard British Film Awards | Best Actor | Ray McAnally (also for No Surrender) | Won |
| Best Screenplay | Robert Bolt | Won | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Jeremy Irons | Nominated | |
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Roland Joffé | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Robert Bolt | Won | |
| Best Original Score – Motion Picture | Ennio Morricone | Won | |
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Film | Won | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Cinematography | Chris Menges | Won |
| Best Music Score | Ennio Morricone | Runner-up | |
| Nastro d'Argento | Best Foreign Actor | Robert De Niro | Nominated |
| National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | 10th Place | |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Cinematographer | Chris Menges | 3rd Place |
| Turkish Film Critics Association Awards | Best Foreign Film | 3rd Place | |
References
- Tied with Salvador.
- Ebert, Rogerhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-mission-1986
- The Missionhttps://web.archive.org/web/20161020172817/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/mission-1970-7
- "Puttnam bites back." Sunday Times [London, England] 22 March 1987: 47. The Sunday Times Digital Archive. Web. 8 April 2
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-14-ca-29420-story.html
- The A.V. Clubhttps://www.avclub.com/fred-melamed-on-casual-the-coens-and-making-larry-dav-1798243399
- James Schofield Saeger (1995) "The Mission and Historical Missions: Film and the Writing of History." The Americas, Vol.
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/08/obituaries/c-j-mcnaspy-79-jesuit-musicologist-author-and-linguist.html
- st-andrews.ac.ukhttps://web.archive.org/web/20141024113653/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~histweb/scothist/brown_k/film/closed/reviews/mission.html
- The Americashttp://www.jstor.org/stable/1008228
- Red Gold: The conquest of the Brazilian Indians, 1500-1760
- "Kent Film Office The Mission Film Focus"http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/1986/03/the-mission-1986/
- Untouchable: A Biography of Robert De Niro
- My indecision is final
- "The Mission (1986)"https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1014027-mission
- "The Mission Reviews"https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-mission
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/31/movies/screen-the-mission-with-deniro-and-irons.html
- Untouchable: A Biography of Robert De Niro
- oscars.orghttp://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1987
- "The ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography"https://web.archive.org/web/20110802060537/http://www.theasc.com/asc_news/awards/awards_history.php
- BAFTAhttp://awards.bafta.org/award/1987/film
- "Best Cinematography in Feature Film"https://bscine.com/media/uploads/awards/bsc-cinematography-feature-film.pdf?v
- festival-cannes.comhttp://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/833/year/1986.html
- David di Donatellohttps://web.archive.org/web/20160426141304/http://www.daviddidonatello.it/storia/cronologia.php
- HFPAhttps://www.goldenglobes.com/film/mission
- kcfcc.orghttps://kcfcc.org/kcfcc-award-winners-1980-89/
- Los Angeles Film Critics Associationhttp://www.lafca.net/Years/1986.php
- National Board of Reviewhttps://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1986/
- Nyfcc.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100907075503/http://www.nyfcc.com/awards.php?year=1986
- Decent Filmshttp://decentfilms.com/reviews/mission
- "AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores"http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/scores25.pdf
- "Top 50 Religious Films – Ray Fowler .org"http://www.rayfowler.org/2007/04/30/top-50-religious-films/
- "Search | Classic 100 Archive | ABC Classic FM"https://www.abc.net.au/classic/classic100/archive/search/?year=2013-movies