Written and directed by Jarrod Anderson, this docudrama — subtitled “The Patron Saint of Ireland” — seeks to debunk many of the myths and legends that have grown up around its subject over the centuries and to capture who he really was as a man and a proclaimer of Christ. The film follows Patrick (played in youth by Robert McCormack, in middle age by Sean T. O’Meallaigh and at the end of his life by John Rhys-Davies) from his abduction as a teen by Irish raiders marauding in fifth-century Roman Empire-controlled Britain, through his six years of slavery, his escape back to Britain, his ordination and his voluntary return to Ireland as a missionary bishop. The live-action and documentary elements blend well, keeping the pace moving along as the story unfolds with the help of Moe Dunford’s narration. The actors successfully capture the excitement, determination and zeal Patrick consistently displayed while interviews with historians and authors weave a narrative that reveals him for the amazing evangelist he was.
Watch the film: Screenings of the docudrama were scheduled in theaters March 17 and 18 for St. Patrick’s Day, but were canceled to prevent possible spread of the coronavirus. The film will be screened in theaters on dates to be announced or can be ordered on DVD now, with instant streaming access from cbn.com.
Watch out for: Brief stylized violence.
Rated: A-II, adults and adolescents; MPAA: Not rated.
