BBC showed that wonderful film 'The Mission' this week about the Jesuits in South America. It was especially poignant for us as a friend had a bit part and although he died some time ago there he was on the screen looking like the last time we saw him.
Tony, our friend was Father General of the 'Society of Jesus' in England when he was asked to advise the makers of the film on Jesuit priests, how they would speak and act with each other so that the actors Jeremy Irons and Robert de Nero would at least appear genuine to anyone who had known a Jesuit. He was so critical they eventually changed the script, got him an Equity card and he went off to Columbia for three months with the cast and as well as advising, played a tiny part of the Father Provincial, just played himself in fact.
He would be so sad if he were still with us to hear nothing much has changed for the Indians in that area, they are still cheated of their land and hounded into other areas. He did his best to help the film makers not to stray too far from the truth of the work of the brothers in his order was too precious for him to allow Hollywood to make mock. It's a fine film. RIP Tony.
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