Throughout the final film in the Indiana Jones trilogy, The Last Crusade, the journey towards atonement with the father is a main theme. Indy and his father, Henry Sr., have an estranged relationship that is exemplified throughout this film and eventually mended. This is shown in several scenes throughout the film.
The opening scene of The Last Crusade shows Indy trying to steal a cross from a group of thugs who want it for the money. Indy, on the other hand, wants to have it so that it can be put into a museum, where he feels it truly belongs. In his excitement upon getting away from the thugs, Indy first runs home to his father to show him his prize, but Henry, preoccupied by his study of the Holy Grail, completely ignores Indy. This is the theme of their relationship throughout Indy’s young life, as is proven by their relationship later in the film. This estrangement that is seen in this scene is what Indy and Henry, Sr. must overcome in order to achieve atonement with the father.
Later in the film, the journey toward the atonement with the father is shown when Indy is asked by Henry, Sr.’s colleague to go find a missing man, and Indy refuses. However, once he learns that the missing person is his father, Indy agrees to go on the dangerous search for his missing father. This proves that although Indy and his father have had a rough relationship throughout their lives, there is still hope and Indy is willing to do whatever it takes to make things work. In addition, this scene shows Indy, for the first time, going after something that is not monetary. He is not going in search of his father for the glory, he is doing it out of love. As Pfeiffer explains, “The device of introducing [Indiana’s] father played by Sean Connery was a stroke of genius” (Pfeiffer 175). What he is likely referring to is this new side of Indy that audiences are able to see; a softer side that is not solely driven by fame, fortune, and glory.
The final scenes of the film show Indy and his father completing their journey to atonement with the father. First, Indy must traverse dangerous obstacles in order to attain the grail, as he and his father are being held against their will. Although Indy can not hear what his father is saying, it is implied that they have some sort of connection that helps Indy figure out the hard clues in the search for the grail. When Indy does finally take hold of the grail, he uses it to heal his father’s fatal wound, further exemplifying the process of their healing relationship. Later, the roles switch and Henry, Sr. must save Indy’s life. Indy, trying to finalize their healed relationship, makes an attempt to reach and grab for the grail but Henry, Sr. tells him to “let it go.” This assertion by Henry, Sr. shows Indy that their relationship is more important to him than the Holy Grail, and this completes their journey toward atonement with the father.
The first scene is very telling not only for the relationship between Indy and his father but also how their personalities drive them farther apart. Indy lives a world of the physical. Clearly he is knowledgeable but cannot stand the life that leaves him cooped up left only with his mind. On the other hand Henry is barley capable of functioning in the real world but is far superior in the world of intellect. By Henry ignoring the real treasure in front of his nose, his inability to come back down to earth only drives a wedge between him and his son. In regards to the last scene I disagree that it displays a connection. Instead, Indy only knows what his father is thinking because he carries the grail diary with him. It instead displays that he is for the first time willing to hear what his father is saying. It shows how the relationship has evolved enough that they can understand each other and can relay each other. It would be naive to think that their relationship is perfect but instead they are open to a better relationship.
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