1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

1492: Conquest of Paradise is a film that was created in celebration of the 500 year anniversary of Columbus' discovery if the Americas.  The plot involves the journey Christopher Columbus makes on his quest to find the New World and the impacts this eventually had on the indigenous people of the Americas.

The story begins with Christopher Columbus in Spain seeking funding for a westward trip to Asia.  He faces much opposition until he sparks the interest of the queen and she grants him his journey.  In return, he promises to bring back riches and gold.  He then sets out with three ships and a crew on a longer than Columbus claimed journey. When they finally reach land, they meet the natives and befriend them. Columbus befriends one native in particular and he learns to speak Spanish. Columbus return to Spain to spread the word of his accomplishments. He makes a second trip back, this time bringing some additional Spaniards, including one named Moxica. When he returns to the island, they begin the construction of a Christian City, La Isabela.  Meanwhile, we see the true character of Moxica. He is revealed as a greedy villain who has evil intentions for the indigenous people. After he cuts off the hand of a native, the natives flee into the woods. Fighting between the two groups eventually breaks out. Moxica ends up killing himself, rather than be killed by a native. Columbus is ordered to return to Spain where he is put into prison, though he is soon let out. Queen Isabella gives permission to Columbus to make one last voyage to the New World.

This film contains several faults.  For one, it is heavily reliant on White Legend. White Legend is the argument of history that praises the introduction of Christianity, democracy, and capitalism to the New World as a result of their colonization by the Spaniards. White Legend focuses on all of the good aspects of Conquest, while ignoring the deaths of the natives and the destruction of their traditional ways of life. Columbus here is pretty much the epitome of White Legend.  He is portrayed as a man who holds a paternalistic view of the natives he encountered. In the film he tries to defend the indigenous groups and is angered at their mistreatment. However, in reality, Columbus was not this kind to the Indians. According to Sonya Lipsett-Rivera and Sergio Rivera Ayala's chapter "Columbus Takes on the Forces of Darkness, or Film and Historical Myth in 1492: The Conquest of Paradise" in Based on a True Story Latin American History at the Movies Columbus supported the beheading of indigenous for minor crimes, such as stealing clothes. Rather than being concerned with the safety of the natives as portrayed in the film, Columbus was more concerned whether or not they would make good slaves to help produce more wealth. He even had native slaves of his own.

The movie portrays elements of the Black Legend as well. Black Legend is the view of history that demonizes the Spanish in regard to the conquest of the Americas. It focuses on the negative aspects such as the death of natives due to disease and violence, forced conversion to Christianity, and the destruction of traditional indigenous ways of life. The creation of the character, Moxica serves as a representation of the culmination of all of the evil motives of the Spaniards.  He is the direct counterpart to Columbus, who is the embodiment of all that is noble about the conquest. Moxica portrayed as a cruel and unfeeling Spaniard who cuts off natives hands who are not able to collect enough gold for him.

It also helps to support the Myth of Exceptional Men. According to Matthew Restall in Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest, the Myth of Exceptional Men is the idea that the success of the exploration and conquest of the New World was a result of a handful of adventurers who used innovative strategies. While actually, these strategies and tactics were routine procedure during this time period, used by both Europeans and the indigenous rulers of the New World. Columbus is portrayed as outsider, someone who doesn't fit in with the rest of society with his grand and unique ideals. In reality, there were many men with similar goals who were all competing to find this New World.

Therefore, 1492: Conquest of Paradise is not an especially good historical film, due to its inaccuracies and biases. The film depicts Columbus in an overly-sympathetic light. They make him out to be some sort of martyr who is motivated by a passion to explore rather than the wealth. But I would still say that it is a successful film.  I think the filmmakers accomplished what they set out to do- celebrate the famous voyage of Christopher Columbus.