Story of Saint Patrick comes to life on Netflix

I AM Patrick: the Patron Saint of Ireland is a feature-length docudrama that peels back centuries of legend and myth to tell the story of Saint Patrick using historical re-enactments, expert interviews, and Patrick’s own writings to trace his journey from man to saint.

The docudrama was filmed on location in Ireland last year in Mayo, Galway, Clare and in a reconstructed roman villa in Wroxeter, England.

With an all-Irish cast and crew, it is due to hit selected cinemas across the USA next week. Producers have also signed a deal with Netflix to feature the movie in Ireland and the UK regions from today (March 12) - just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

Most people know about Patrick the saint but few know about Patrick the man. This new docudrama tells how a sinner became a religious icon and how in following his mission he rebelled against the conventions of his day.

Written and directed by Jarrod Anderson from CBN Films and co-produced with Sarah Maunsell from Location Fixer Ireland, the movie stars John Rhys Davies (Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones), Seán T. Ó Meallaigh (Vikings and An Klondike) and Robert McCormack (The Professor and the Madman). It is narrated by Moe Dunford (Black 47, The Dig, and Vikings).

In the 5th century, the Roman empire was collapsing, and barbarians threatened civilisation. In Britain, a teenager named Patrick was living a comfortable life as the son of a government official. Despite being part of the Roman Catholic Church, his faith didn’t mean anything to him until he was kidnapped by pirates at the age of 16 and enslaved at the edge of the known world – Ireland.

For six years, Patrick was forced to work as a shepherd and was driven to the brink of starvation. It was there he turned to his Christian faith and through divine intervention managed to escape. He was reunited with his family in Britain only to have a prophetic dream calling him to take Christianity back to the land of his captivity.

Against the wishes of his family and the Church, Patrick returned as a missionary bishop to Ireland and converted thousands to Christianity. He opposed slavers, Irish kings and possibly druids but nothing compared to the hostility he faced from his fellow Christians. After a close friend exposed a dark secret of Patrick’s, it is believed he was ordered to leave his mission and return to Britain.

Said Jarrod Anderson, writer/director: “Most people know about the green beer, banishing the snakes, and the parades but few actually know about the man behind the myths. We filmed all across Ireland in some phenomenal locations and were able to create an epic docudrama with a stellar all Irish cast and crew. I couldn’t have hoped for better!”