Liam Neeson talks about the making of his film ‘The Mission’.
‘The Mission’ is set in eighteenth-century South America directed by Roland Joffé, produced by David Puttnam and starring Liam Neeson, Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons and Ray McAnally. The film is about a group of Spanish Jesuit priests who endeavour to protect a tribe of indigenous people who are in danger of falling under the jurisdiction of the slave trade.
Liam Neeson spent four months filming in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay and says of the overall experience that,
"It was long, it was ardouous, and an incredible bundle of fun, absolute joy."
The film’s storyline and themes made him aware of the plight of indigenous peoples whose lands and way of life are under threat from governments of the countries in which they live. While on location and working with Father Daniel Berrigan, SJ (Society of Jesus) Liam Neeson who described himself as a lapsed Catholic found spirituality again,
"I’ve rediscovered something about my Christianity, at least I hope I have
Working on this film was as far removed from a traditional film set as one could imagine, says the Ballymena-born actor. Challenging locations included steep cliff faces, mountains and filming at Iguazú Falls which have an elevation of almost two hundred metres, so
There wasn’t much room for a chair."
This episode of ‘Borderline’ was broadcast on 25 October 1986. The presenter is Aonghus McAnally.
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