Even the Rain

           The scene I found most powerful was also the scene that was intended to be the most significant part of the movie about Christopher Columbus. This was of course during the burning of Daniel’s character among others in the name of Christianity. Things such as shot angle, close-ups, and the focus of the shots. These elements were used to make the film more moving and draw parallels from Christopher Columbus’ to the filming itself.

            Sebastian’s movie was intended to reveal the extreme mistreatment of the indigenous people when Christopher Columbus arrived.  In this, Sebastian was clearly trying to show that the Spaniards, who thought so highly of themselves due to Christianity, weren’t the heroes to these people; these people were in fact above them, they were far more important and far more admirable.  This is why I believe they film, from a high angle, looking over the shoulder of Daniel’s character when he spits on the Spaniard.  This is to convey that Daniel’s character and his people are above the Spaniards and their oppression.  And Daniel’s character was filmed from ground level which makes us believe he is bigger than us, than this entire issue, that he cannot be swayed.  This is one reason that makes this scene particularly moving, because it fuels our hatred for the Spaniards who are supposedly acting to change lives for the better, just as Sebastian is trying to do with the film he’s making.

            We also see several close-ups on Daniel; the most significant one was clearly when he was being burned alive.  We see and hear him ask if Christians go to heaven, and he receives the answer of yes.  He responds with saying, “Then let me burn in hell!”  We see this small, powerful man being burned to death, screaming in agony, a result of his refusal to accept the Christian ideals.

This scene was the most important part of the movie in my opinion; we see the filming of a movie about Christopher Columbus that was essentially pointing out the poor treatment of the indigenous people.  However, what the director of this film, Sebastian, didn’t realize is that he was essentially doing the same exact thing as the Spaniards.   The scene allows us to draw parallels to how the government is oppressive and holds water from the people and that Sebastian is only paying the workers 2 dollars for each day of hard work.  Sebastian is no better than Columbus himself.  It made me dislike Sebastian, because he believed that this film would change people; but in reality, Sebastian needed to change himself.