Black Robe depicts the efforts of Jesuit priests in 17th-century New France (Canada) to convert the Huron and Algonquin people to Christianity. Native Americans called the missionaries "Black Robes" because of the clothing they wore.

Director Constantin Costa-Gavras's movie, Missing, recounts these events from the perspective of U.S. citizens living in Chile. Based on Thomas Hauser's non-fiction book, The Execution of Charles Horman (1978), the film explores the disappearance of a young American, Charles Horman, a victim of the coup. Screenwriters Costa-Gavras and Donald Stewart won Oscars for their work.

The movie opens in Quebec in 1634. Samuel de Champlain, the founder of New France, presides over a colony of men: fur traders who live for months among the Native trappers and hunters; a few workmen who build modest dwellings and trading posts; and the independent Jesuit clergy who at great personal sacrifice seek to save the souls of people they call Savages.

Father Laforgue (Lothaire Bluteau) is a youthful Jesuit who speaks Algonquin and Huron languages (albeit poorly). Dedicated to his mission, he proposes a 1500-mile journey to join Father Jerome's mission among New France's allies, the Hurons. Champlain (Jean Brousseau) warns of the difficulty of the journey, but agrees to negotiate with Algonquin guides who will take him to the Hurons. In addition, Daniel (Aden Young), a young carpenter who is enamored of the Native girl Annuka (Sandrine Holt), persuades Laforgue to take him along.

Preparations for a conference between Champlain and the Algonquin leaders highlight the differences of parallel worlds: The Natives paint their skins, Champlain prepares his military dress. Algonquins dance to drums; the French to the tune of pipes and flutes. The ceremony concludes with French gift-giving, including awls, flints, and knives.

Although Algonquins welcome European technology, the exchange shows that some of the French are equally attracted to Native customs. But in response to that implication, the movie cuts to a flashback by Laforgue, reminding him of the vow made in France to pursue the "glorious task" of converting the Savages. He must struggle to maintain his faith during the arduous journey upstream.

As the Algonquian canoes head upriver, the cultural exchanges continue. Daniel violates a taboo by using his name. "Nothing you French do makes any sense," responds Annuka. Native American generosity contrasts with French hoarding (ironically, of American-grown tobacco). Another flashback to France shows female modesty quite different from Annuka's sexual freedom.

The film contrasts Laforgue's belief in a Christian hereafter with the Native American belief in the power of dreams. Puzzled by the meaning of the chief's dreams, showing a raven pecking his eye, the Native council identifies the black bird as the Black Robe and decides to consult a sorcerer among the Montagnais tribe to advise the correct response.

The sorcerer Mestigoit (Yvan Labelle), a painted dwarf, calls Laforgue a demon. The confrontation prompts another flashback to France as Laforgue recalls the sacrifice of Joan of Arc. Laforgue continues to perform Catholic rituals, baptizing a dead infant and making signs of the cross. Such "spells" worry the Algonquins, who decide to abandon the two Frenchmen in mid-journey.

Daniel, enraptured by Annuka, leaves Laforgue and follows the departing band. By the time he catches up, Annuka's father, Chomina (August Schellenberg), is expressing second thoughts about abandoning the priest. Most of the Algonquins refuse to go back, but Chomina, his family, and Daniel return to Laforgue.

A war party of Iroquois, hostile to the Algonquin and their French allies, attacks the small group and takes the captives to a nearby village. All are subjected to Iroquois taunts and torture. With ritual violence, the Iroquois take one of the priest's fingers and kill Annuka's little brother. The young woman's sexuality, however, enables them to escape.

After further hardships, the survivors--Laforgue, Daniel, and Annuka--arrive at the Huron village. The old priest, Father Jerome (Frank Wilson), can barely function, and the Native community is afflicted by a mysterious fever. Desperate for a cure, the Hurons agree to accept the Jesuits' "water sorcery"--baptism. When Father Jerome dies, Laforgue assumes responsibility for this spiritual victory.

The film ends with these afterthoughts: "Fifteen years later, the Hurons, having accepted Christianity, were routed and killed by their enemies, the Iroquois. The Jesuit mission to the Hurons was abandoned and the Jesuits returned to Quebec."

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