On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus and his expedition set foot in America for the first time and began a conquest that would forever change our world. This year again it is celebrated on October 12 and a good idea for entertainment could be to spend the afternoons of this rainy weekend watching some of these films about the discovery of America. The best-known film about this historic event is undoubtedly the movie The mission by director Roland Joffé with actors Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Ray McAnally and Aidan Quinn. The mission He won the Oscar in 1986 for Best Cinematography (Cris Menges), the Palme d’Or in 1986 at the Cannes Film Festival and also won 3 BAFTA awards in 1987, for Best Supporting Actor (Ray McAnally) , for best editing (Jim Clark) and for best music (Ennio Morricone). In addition to this unforgettable film, we can find many others on streaming platforms.
Even if some of these films are known and received positive or negative reviewsothers have gone unnoticed. We will tell you about the following cassettes: Aguirre, the wrath of God (1972), The mission (1986), cow head (1991), 1492: The conquest of paradise (1992), The other conquest (1998), The New World (2005) and Apocalypto (2006). Most can be found on streaming platforms like Prime Video. Also on this platform you can see the eight-episode miniseries Hernán, whose protagonist is the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés and in Movistar Plus+ Explorers: Adventum.
Aguirre, the wrath of God
this movie It is based on the journals of Fray Gaspar de Carvajalwas directed by Werner Herzog and starred actor Klaus Kinski. This film tells the story of the journey to madness of the explorer Lope de Aguirre whose objective was to find the lost city El Dorado and to achieve this he guides an entire Spanish expedition through the jungles of the Amazon. The film tells the story of Aguirre’s transformation and all the incidents that this expedition encounters.
The mission
One of the films about the discovery of America the most talked about in the history of cinema in which we tell how, in the middle of the tropical jungle next to the Iguazu Falls, a Jesuit missionary, Father Gabriel, tries to follow the example of a crucified Jesuit, with no other weapons than his faith and a oboe. After being accepted by the Guaraní Indians, Gabriel created the mission of San Carlos. Among his supporters is Rodrigo Mendoz, a former slave trader, mercenary and murderer, who in search of forgiveness becomes a Jesuit and finds peace among his former victims.
Cow head
We will also tell you about this film directed by Nicolás Echevarría which tells the story of Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vacatreasurer of Charles I of Spain. This film is based on the chronicle Shipwrecks made by Alvar himself of his failed expedition. It stars actors Juan Diego, Roberto Gómez and Roberto Sosa.
As the film’s synopsis states: “In 1527, during the early years of the Spanish conquest, Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, treasurer of Charles I of Spain, embarked on Pánfilo de Narváez’s expedition to Florida. The expedition is shipwrecked on the coast of Louisiana. Alvar is taken prisoner and transformed into a slave. After suffering all kinds of humiliation, he is released. He reunited with four companions and together they embarked on a four-year journey that culminated in what is now the territory of Sinaloa.
1492: The conquest of paradise
A very controversial film directed by Ridley Scott and with the famous French actor Gérard Depardieu who plays the complex role of Christopher Columbus. The series tells how at the end of the 15th century, a Genoese navigator dreamed of finding a new maritime route that would allow him to directly reach the markets of Asia, in order to do without intermediaries who made goods more expensive. He had presented his project to the king of Portugal, but the experts rejected it because they considered it feasible but ruinous.
It is also told how his proposal was initially rejected in Castile, but eventually Columbus obtained the support of Father Marchena, the shipowner Martín Alonso Pinzón, the Valencian banker Luis de Santángel and Queen Isabella of Castile who approved the project. On August 3, 1492, Columbus left the port of Palos. with their three ships La Pinta, La Niña and La Santa María and on October 12, 1492 they arrived on a small Caribbean island which they called San Salvador.
The other conquest
Another of the films about the discovery of America can be The other conquest. A complex film written and directed by Salvador Carrasco in which he narrates the history of the Spanish conquest in Mexico from the perspective of the Aztecswho faced the army of Hernán Cortés. Its protagonist is Topiltzin (Damián Delgado), a descendant of Moctezuma who will fight to preserve the religious and cultural identity of his people.
the new world
This film was written and directed by Terrence Malick and takes place in 17th century colonial America during the founding of the colony. It chronicles the clash between the natives and the conquerors, as well as the conflict that erupts when John Smith (Colin Farrell) and a high-born native (Q’orianka Kilcher) fall in love.
Apocalypto
Finally, you can also see another of the films about the discovery of America directed by the famous actor Mel Gibson which focuses on the episode of the destruction of the Mayan people. The peaceful life of the Mayans is interrupted by this attack and one man must return home to try to preserve their way of life.
