the two thing that be most striking about this film be it unqualified realism and the beauty of it wilderness photography . the story take place in the 17th century in what be to be canada while it concern a jesuit priest ( father laforgue ) from an upper class family in france who come to quebec city and be task with travel through the wilderness some 1 and 500 mile west to work at the huron mission there . laforgue be accompany on his journey by a party of algonquin indian as well a by daniel and a young french interpreter who be primarily just up for the adventure . a the journey proceeds and the season move from fall into a harsh winter the mood of the film become ever more bleak . the continue culture clash between the algonqins and laforgue be sometimes humorous but be ultimately sad in their revealing insight into how difficult it be for one culture to understand another . one scene have laforgue transcribe a brief story tell by the algonquin chief and then have daniel take the transcription some distance and read it back to another tribesman . laforgue be try to show the indian that he have much to teach them and but their interpretation of the incident be that he must be some sort of demon . when the party meet up with some member of another tribe and they see laforgue dress in his black robe and ask if he be intelligent and the algonquin chief quickly answer and no . on the other hand laforgue view the indian in their current unenlightened state a savage . not all be love and harmony between the various indian tribe . when the lafourgue party encounter a band of iroquois there be some scene of violence and torture where the squeamish may want to avert their eye . daniel and speak the algonquin language and have take up with the chief daughter and begin to have some understanding of the indian and their way . one interesting exchange between daniel and lagorgue be representdaniel represent they believe that in the forest at night the dead can see . laforgue represent it childish daniel . daniel represent be it hard to believe than in men of paradise where we all sit on cloud and look at god . laforgue most singular personal characteristic be his unwavering faith . his reaction to sexual temptation be confession of sin and self flogging . he sincerely believe that christianity can bring salvation to the indian and but the indian have their own god and view laforgue with incomprehension . the film success in make u understand both of these position give the ultimate conclusion a dimension of tragedy .