Black Robe (film)

Black Robe
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBruce Beresford
Screenplay byBrian Moore
Based onBlack Robe
by Brian Moore
Produced byRobert Lantos
Sue Milliken
Stéphane Reichel
StarringLothaire Bluteau
Aden Young
Sandrine Holt
August Schellenberg
Tantoo Cardinal
CinematographyPeter James
Edited byTim Wellburn
Music byGeorges Delerue
Production
companies
Alliance Films
Samson Productions
Hoyts
Distributed byAlliance Films (Canada)
Hoyts-Fox-Columbia TriStar Films (Australia)
Release dates
Running time
101 minutes
CountriesCanada
Australia
LanguagesEnglish
Cree
Mohawk
Algonquin
BudgetA$11 million[1]
Box office$8,211,952[2]

Black Robe is a 1991 historical drama film directed by Bruce Beresford, adapted by Brian Moore from his 1985 novel of the same name. Set in the 17th century, it depicts the adventures of a Jesuit missionary tasked with founding a mission in New France. To do so, he must traverse 2400km of harsh wilderness with the help of a group of Algonquins, facing danger from both the unfamiliar environment and rival tribes. The title refers to the nickname given to the Jesuits by the Algonquins, referring to his black cassock.

The film stars Lothaire Bluteau in the title role, with other cast members including Aden Young, Sandrine Holt, Tantoo Cardinal, August Schellenberg, Gordon Tootoosis and Raoul Trujillo. It was the first official co-production between a Canadian film team and an Australian one. It was shot mostly in the Canadian province of Quebec.[3] It was Young and Holt's film debut.

Black Robe premiered at the 1991 Toronto International Film Festival and was given a wide release on 6 October, becoming the highest-grossing Canadian film of 1991.[4] It received generally positive reviews and won several accolades. It was nominated for ten Genie Awards and won six, including Best Motion Picture, Best Director (Beresford), Best Adapted Screenplay (Moore), and Best Supporting Actor (Schellenberg). It was also nominated for ten AACTA Awards, with Peter James winning Best Cinematography.

  1. ^ Greg Kerr, "Black Robe", Australian Film 1978–1992, Oxford Uni Press 1993 p331
  2. ^ "Black Robe (1991) – Box Office Mojo". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. ^ Stratton, David (9 September 1991). "Black Robe". Variety. p. 65.
  4. ^ "Black Robe | The Canadian Encyclopedia". thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 10 February 2021.