Ignacio De Loyola: Viva Ignacio! Viva España!

The inspiring conversion of soldier Ignacio de Loyola better known as St. Ignatius from a sinner to a man of God is depicted in the epic film Ignacio de Loyola. The English-language movie produced by Jesuit Communications Philippines (JesCom) and co-presented by the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific and One Meralco Foundation, features a cast composed of famous stars in Spain. These stars are Javier Godino of Oscar Best Foreign Film El Secreto de Sus Ojos, Isabel Garcia Lorca of Desperately Seeking Susan, Pepe Ocio of Camino, and Julio Perillan of Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Shakespeare-trained Spanish heartthrob Andreas Muñoz plays the title role. Adreas is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He made his film debut at the age of 9 in Guillermo del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone.

Ignacio de Loyola chronicles the life of the brash young soldier Iñigo (Ignacio de Loyola) who was forced to give up his dreams of knighthood when he was crippled in battle. He turns away from his life of vice and violence and starts pursuing a wild desire to become a saint  only to be arrested by the Spanish Inquisition for heresy. What follows is a struggle to follow God’s will, even unto death.

When JesCom envisioned the project, they were very insistent in filming in St. Ignatius’ home country, Spain. Ignacio de Loyola was shot in Navarra and the Basque Country of Spain in 2015. The breath-taking locations are heightened by the meticulous production design and the dramatic cinematography so that viewers will certainly feel transported to 15th century Spain.

“We went to many of the actual sites where Ignatius’ story happened,” says director Paolo Dy. “The house in Loyola, the Basque Country… We also went to the actual cave in Manresa where St. Ignatius struggled with his conscience (and) in Montserrat which is a gorgeous, gorgeous place.”

Of all the locations, Paolo feels especially thankful to have shot in the Tower House of Loyola, the actual castle where St. Ignatius grew up. The original home is now encased within the basilica of St. Ignatius in the town of Loyola. “The guardians of the castle were very generous and allowed us to shoot there. It was the very, very place where Ignatius experienced the heartaches and joys of his family life.”

Paolo adds that when the residents of Loyola found out that they were making a film about St. Ignatius, the people got excited and many of them extended a hand in terms of logistical support.

The battle scenes though required a medieval-looking locale; the Navarra Film Comission recommended shooting in the small town of Artajona, the same location for the 1976 film Robin and Marian that starred Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn. “It still had medieval-era walls,” says Paolo. “We got to shoot some good scenes there. One month after, the production of Game of Thrones comes into Artajona and shoots in the very same location. I guess that speaks of the quality of the place…”

Ignacio de Loyola opens in Philippine cinemas on July 27. For more information about the film, check out facebook.com/ignaciomovie.