At the Filmoteca Vaticana in the Palazzo San Giorgio an advance screening of San Ignacio de Loyola was held at 4:00 P.M. on 14 June, Tuesday. This ambitious project of Jesuit Communications (JESCOM) Philippines was filmed in Spain, with a Spanish cast at the site where the historic events happened.
The cast was led by Andreas Muñoz, who began his acting career as a child star at age nine. The film was directed by Paulo Dy. For this feature film debut he was assisted by his wife Cathy. Together they wrote the script for the movie. The development and writing of the script was assisted by Jesuit consultants who brought their expertise in spirituality, history and art to the film.
Post-production of the film was done entirely in the Philippines using the latest in CGI, sound mixing and visual balancing to achieve a world-class film. The musical score is a creation of Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, directing the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra.
The film was concieved as a response to the lack of contemporary material on St. Ignatius Loyola; the last feature was in the 1940s, in black and white and in Spanish. Addressed to the youth, struggling to make crucial life decisions, the film shows how the ambitious Iñigo Lopez de Loyola struggles to make sense of his life and his thwarted ambition to serve at the court of the Spanish monarch and distinguish himself in a military career. Injured at the Battle of Pamplona in 1521, he emerged a cripple after the battle and his ambitions shattered. In making sense of his future options, Iñigo realizes that there is a larger spiritual struggle worthy of his dreams and efforts. He emerges from his convalescense determined to know what God wants of him. Going on a long pilgrimage from his home town in the Basque region of Guipozcoa to Montserrat and a month long seclusion at the caves in nearby Manresa, Iñigo is transformed a to a knight of God. The old Iñigo dies and Ignatius is born.
The film screening was attended by the Jesuit General, Fr. Adolfo Nicholas, S.J. and his council; the Superior General of the Saint Paul de Chartres and her council; Sisters of Sacro Costato; Dr. Claudia di Giovanni of the Vatican Secretariat for Social Communication; Abp. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, Secretary of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the faith.
Also in attendance were media people, Anna de Simone of TV 2000 and Vatican TV, who interviewed director Paulo Dy.
All were appreciative of the film and deeply moved. In response to the question whether the movie will appeal to the youth, the response of Fr. Antonio Spadaro of La Civilta Cattolica was: “Certainly. Because young people are very interested in action and this movie represents the spiritual life in action.”
