This is a descriptive story, one that tells of real events, although I am certain they are highly edited. Basically, a bunch of white guys living in Ecuador decide to "save" the local savage tribes still living in the stone age, killing each other for women and hunting grounds.

The missionaries are portrayed as real selfless people, with only a few scenes purporting to the religious aspect of their quest, which, in my opinion, was probably the main if not the only reason they were there in the first place.

Due to a misunderstanding, the missionaries are killed, but their wives and children end up living in the village of their killers, turning the other cheek, as it were, and breaking the endless cycle of violence... by bringing polio to the enemy tribe :)

Bottom line: it is a point of view breaker. By watching the movie, one gets to break out of their cozy view of the world and gather more insight into human nature. Understanding the amount of editing of the real story and the politics behind it brings more insight.

END OF THE SPEAR is a little film that tells a fine story based on a true incident. The director Jim Hanon has mastered the elements of his film - story, character development, atmosphere of place - and the result is a visually stunning little film that is touching without being mawkish.

Nate Saint (Chad Allen),his wife Elizabeth (Beth Bailey) and son Steve (Chase Ellison) are missionaries living in the jungles of Ecuador. A tribe of Indians, the Waodani, is self-destructing due to a long custom of 'spearing' their fellow Indians with whom they have contentions. Fearing that the tribe will become extinct, Nate and his fellow missionary buddies fly a small craft into the area of the Amazon to befriend the Indians. There they encounter Mincayani (Louie Leonardo),Kimo (Jack Guzman),and Dayumae (Christina Souza) among the other tribesmen. The Waodani don't trust the foreigners and in an act of missionary aid they kill the missionary men. The family of Nate is devastated as are the wives and children of the other missionaries and they decide to move into the village to prove their husband's good intentions. The struggle and eventual coming together of these two 'tribes' of peoples forms the storyline and speaks of forgiveness, need, love and survival.

The story is simple but beautiful and the acting is very good. Some may quibble about the use of non-Indian actors (who too obviously maintain well-shaved faces and buff bodies) and the use of a language not always translated in the subtitles, but the overall effect of the movie is one of nature and the lessons to be learned in the interaction of two types of cultures. For this viewer the minor flaws are easily overlooked. Grady Harp

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.