End of the Spear

I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and won the $50,000 Grand Prize in October of 2005. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."

The film, which is based on a true story, starts in 1956 in the Amazon basin in Ecuador. Five missionaries are savagely killed by a primitive tribe. But that is the beginning of the story and not the end of the story.

The missionaries' wives and children take on the work of their fathers and husbands. They and we, the audience, are forced to examine violence and how we react to violence and the possibility of forgiving the perpetrators of violence.

The missionaries and their families display incredible human traits. They display courage in the face of danger – they are willing to sacrifice a normal life to help others – they show respect and tolerance to primitive people. But most impressive of all, they retain their humility and do not look down on others.

The cinematography and music are stunning. The Amazon jungle becomes the third character along with the tribe and the missionaries. And all three characters relentlessly attempt to survive and prevail.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Crystal Heart winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.

Back in the early Nineties I took some more undergraduate courses at my alma mater and one of them I took was introductory Anthropology 101 which I'd missed in my younger days. The professor would have loved End Of The Spear for the careful and meticulous recreation of the hunting and gathering tribe the Waodani. They were at least a violent group of people who believe when you make contact with outsiders you murder them because they too are violent and their ideas may infect your culture.

This film is based on a true incident where five Christian missionaries in 1956 were murdered by the Waodani. As we learn from Star Trek first contact is most important. That usually sets a pattern in relations. What was unusual that with the subtitles we learn what the Waodani are thinking and why they attack the missionaries. The story made headlines back in the Fifties.

Chad Allen plays both one of the slain missionaries and his son who comes back to the area of the jungle region of inner Ecuador where this took place. Louie Leonardo plays Mincayani who believes he's defending his culture and who is to say he wasn't. What happens with Allen in both roles and Leonardo is as Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story.

End Of The Spear was beautifully photographed in the actual location of the tragedy. The roles are well acted and the directing of some of the tribes people in their parts is an incredible triumph.

Because Chad Allen is openly gay, he got criticized for taking the role from some gay people and was attacked by the fundamentalists as well. But as this project and casting was approved by Steve Saint, son of the slain Nate Saint if he was OK with it, who's anyone else to say.

Professor Audrey Wilson of LIU this review is dedicated to you and I hope you saw the film.

I had a chance to view this film at the National Missionary Convention. All I have to say about it....IT ROCKS! A great film. Very inspiring. I will see it again and I will spend top dollar to see it. When it is available to purchase, I will be the first in line. The film was beautifully made, and was true to the actual story of the five missionaries who gained their lives by reaching the Waodani. I was moved, shocked, brought to tears as I viewed this realistic portrayal. I would not recommend allowing children under 10 to view. Nothing horrific, just some hard imagery to digest. Would open the door for 20 questions after they viewed the film. I am going to allow my 10 year to see it. Again...GREAT FILM!!! GREAT MESSAGE,

This is a wonderful movie about the human spirit. It was beautifully and lovingly made by people who were truly moved by the story. We watched in a screening at the University I work at and the Producer came to speak about the project and how he got involved. I and 1300 others watched the movie, in folding chairs, yet we were not uncomfortable at all because the movie is so enrapturing that you just don't notice your surroundings at all. The majority of the audience was college aged students and I've never seen them so moved, and amazingly quiet, for such a long time. I believe that this movie will have a great impact on the lives of all who see it. I highly recommend it.

In 1943 Amazon Basin, Ecuador, Mincayani as a boy survives a massacre in his village as the Waodani tribe live in a never-ending series of revenge killings. Dayumae is a native girl taken by outsiders. The spear is the preferred weapon. In 1956, a group of missionaries fly their plane and make contact with the help of Dayumae. There are misunderstandings and Mincayani's group kills the missionaries. Despite the murders, the dead missionaries' families continue the work.

This is a message movie and I love the message. Louie Leonardo is charismatic as Mincayani. The rest of the cast is filled with B-level actors. This is not a dramatic affair but a compelling story nevertheless. I choose to love this movie for its message and the quiet heroism that is more superhuman than any superhero movie.