1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

 

Some people think he was a hero. Others believe he was an egotist, rapist, and a murderer. But everyone agrees Christopher Columbus was human, made mistakes, and changed the face of history with his revolutionary desire to sail as far as he could in search of a passage across the Atlantic. This film isn’t entirely historically correct, but tells its story well enough that you can forgive its faults.

  

Believing he can charter a route across the sea from Europe to Asia rather than running the dangerous over ground passage or sailing for a year around the coast of Africa, adventurer Christopher Columbus (Gerard Depardieu) searches for financial backing for his expedition. Most believe him mad, that he will sail to the world’s end and perish in the sea, that he can’t make such a journey, much less in the six weeks he believes it will take to reach land. But his proposal catches the attention of a banker (Frank Langella) who arranges an audience for him with Queen Isabella of Spain (Sigourney Weaver). The charming man that appeals for her help amuses her, but her advisor Sanchez (Armand Assante) warns her Columbus wants too much in return for his voyage. Inspired by his passion, she gives him the funding to pursue his dreams.

  

They set out; the crew becoming disgruntled and mutinous as their supplies wane without sight of land. Then they discover an island full of friendly and curious natives. Leaving a band of men there to build a settlement, and taking what riches he can find to Spain, Columbus convinces Isabella there is a need for further men and supplies, but upon returning, he finds the settlement burned and his men slaughtered, setting the stage for a brutal historic struggle that leads to Columbus’ political downfall.

 

Columbus is an empathetic if misguided hero. Circumstances are often beyond his control, but he also makes several errors of judgment. The film has a good grasp of basic history and brings it to life with beautiful simplicity. One of the more perplexing omissions is the absence of King Ferdinand, who was present for each of Columbus’ appearances before the Spanish court and here has only in one scene with no dialogue. The real Ferdinand was an outspoken critic of Columbus. However, it touches on the inquisition in Europe with the ousting of the Jews, the capture of Granada, and the burning of six heretics. Some if its early scenes are excellent, particularly when dealing with the departure of the Moors. The costuming is gorgeous and the sailing sequences are picturesque. But it fumbles on some of its historical aspects, such as sailing three ships back to Spain (the Santa Maria ran into a reef), as well as mingling two of Columbus’ later voyages into one.   

  

If the film has one thing going for it, it’s the casting and cinematography. Ridley Scott also knows how to show off the majesty of horses. Two important scenes featured them as a primary point, and for someone like me who loves their beauty and power, it’s breathtaking. Everyone made their characters complex and believable. There were a lot of things I hated about the film (it feels long and is brutal) but overall, it entertained me.

     

Sexual Content:

The natives are often half naked. There are two instances of upper female nudity on teenage girls; the natives bathe in a stream with the settlers and most of the women are topless, but details cannot really be made out due to the use of shadows. Twice we see a nude little boy from the front or side; it's uncertain whether the Indian men are nude from behind or just wearing tight loincloths. Columbus has a child with a woman who is not his wife. There is some cleavage at the court.

   

Language:

There are several harsh abuses of deity and some general profanity.

  

Violence:

An early sequence shows heretics being strangled before set on fire at a public burning. Prisoners are later shown the same punishment on the islands. We hear gagging noises. Brutal warfare is depicted between Indians and Spaniards; when stabbed, the natives spit up white froth. The grotesque remains of the settlers are found. When a native cannot fill his quota of gold, a man cuts off his hand (the bloody stump is shown), causing an uprising that results it mass death and chaos. A man commits suicide by leaping from a cliff; his limp body smashes through a building below and is shown in the wreckage.

  

Other:

Religious wise, Columbus blesses the Islands in the name of the Lord and desires to bring salvation to the natives, but his behavior is often self-serving and once he becomes furious with God and destroys part of a monastery, before a monk crosses himself and knocks Columbus flat.