Spain conquered the seas, found a new world and different realities than the one known in Europe. But a question needed to be answered with what they found in those new territories: do the Indians have souls? The Church, bound to protect and convert the natives and the conquerors who treated them like slaves and thought they were only merchandising, expose their arguments and reasonings at what would be known as the Vallidolid controversy. Between them, there's a cardinal hearing both parts and trying to get reasonable answers from this critical question.
Reviews
Good movie but grossly overrated
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
Two men are facing one another. One, a monk, thinks that South-American Indians are human beings, and wants their slaughtering to end. The other, an official philosopher, thinks - or pretends to think - they are not quite human and hence can legitimately be killed or used as slaves, in order to develop the wealth and power of the Spanish crown. In the middle, a legate of the Pope has the heavy, risky task of deciding who is right. This "Controverse" is built like a boxing fight, where words and proofs would replace fists. Gradually, the spectator is taken into this fight, forced to understand both fighters' reasons and convictions. No one is the villain : one is right (according to our modern convictions), one is wrong, but both have good reasons to have their ideas and fight for them. The moral requirements are opposed to the political ones. Philosophically, it is a good example of what Max Weber called "conviction ethic" and "responsability ethic" in his famous articles about scientist and politician. But this movie just puts into action, it makes it vivid and thrilling. In addition, the cast is just great : Jean-Pierre Marielle, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Jean Carmet in the main roles add a wonderful credibility to the story. A film much, much worth seeing !
Do the Indians of the new world have a soul? This is the point of the debate which opposes, in 1550 in Valadolid, capital of Spain, the canon philosopher Sepulveda and the famous dominican Las Casas, eager defensor of the Indians. Were they redeem by the Christ's blood or are they born to be slaves? In front of a Papal Lagate, a representant of Charles Quint and an assembly, the two opponents are facing. To confirm or infirm their declarations, the Papal Legate has several natives to come: they're going to observe if the natives are capable of human feelings. Eager debate, deep, odd, premonitory. For centuries, the destiny of millions of human beings will depend on the taken decision, but not necessarily of those we're thinking...A GREAT! TV movie, with a tremendous casting of french actors: shrewdness, subtlety, very good understanding of the political and historycal events, a movie to watch, absolutely!!(see (The Supper (1992)), on imdb: same style of movie)
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