In August 2024, film crews were spotted in Friedensau, Germany, carrying large microphones and filming equipment, as they prepared to shoot scenes featuring actors and extras in historical costumes. These scenes aim to depict significant events from the history of Friedensau in the upcoming film Echo of Faith, which is currently in production.

Friedensau has been the subject of various films over the years. The oldest surviving footage is a promotional film from 1935, which was secured by Friedemann Mahlhus, the former head of the media department in Friedensau. This film, later supplemented with commentary by Gottfried Donat, offers a glimpse into the community nearly 90 years ago.

In recent years, MDR film crews have frequently visited the area to cover university events and campus activities, producing both short and long segments. The current docudrama, Echo of Faith, is based on Wolfgang Hartlapp’s 2009 book, Wanderer, Come to Friedensau .... The screenplay was written by Dr. Johannes Hartlapp, a lecturer and church historian. The film is being produced by Friedensau-Media under the direction of Matheus Volanin and Matthias Reischel, who has directed various ARD series.

Many community members are familiar with Friedensau, having been part of the school or attended the university. This personal connection influenced the filming process, particularly for the actors involved.

Theology student Wieland Gelke had the opportunity to participate in the filming of Echo of Faith, and this experience left a strong impression on him and the other amateur actors from Friedensau. He described the tense atmosphere on set and said, "It is a tense silence. Everyone stands rigidly and waits for the signal: 'Action!' And then it starts immediately. I am standing opposite two sinister figures whose clothing and demeanor are tailor-made National Socialists. Everything about them intimidates me and makes me feel uneasy. ... I feel the pain and powerlessness, I get smaller and smaller inside and still try to keep my friendly but slightly distant and shy manner. Then, all of a sudden, the call comes: 'Thank you, and that's it!' and everyone stands there as if transformed. The grim expressions disappear, and the Nazis who had just been so nasty become very friendly and likeable people…”

He continued, “For me, as a layperson, this is a completely new and overwhelming experience: the costumes, the makeup, the props, and the set are designed with loving details. Together with the wonderful performance of the actors, it is very easy to immerse yourself in your role and the time. As the managing director of Friedensau Seminary, I [as Otto Vogel] am faced with a political authority figure who wants to intimidate me and take over our buildings. It's all just an act, but the emotions are real, nonetheless. I feel the discomfort, the helplessness, and the pain that the representatives of the university must have felt in that situation. I am deeply moved to know that they remained strong back then, relied on God, and saved our Friedensau from far worse."

Karola Vierus, who has lived in Friedensau for more than 45 years and also studied and worked there, portrayed an organist in the film. She shared her experience filming in the Friedensau chapel, saying, "I found that everything was very professional and well-organized ... they only struggled with the fluorescent tube above the music stand of the organ, which was too bright: it was first taped over with light paper and then with dark paper, so that reading the music was a bit tiring. I found the little group that represented the churchgoers in the gallery very funny: in the special GDR fashion of the 1980s, in beige and mouse gray ... they sat there concentrating. That amused me a lot.”

Filming took place at several locations, including an old Latin school in Gernrode, the Kleinbahn association in Magdeburgerforth—due to the absence of the Pabsdorf-Friedensau train station—and the New School, where a classroom has been converted into an office. Additional interviews were also conducted with Dieter Leutert in Potsdam, Wolfgang Kabus in Augsburg, and Bernhard Oestreich in Friedensau, all of which will be incorporated into the docudrama.

The production team is currently engaged in post-production work, including film editing and sound optimization. Appreciation is expressed to all those involved in the project, from actors to financial contributors. The premiere of Echo of Faith is scheduled for spring 2025, a date that many in the community eagerly anticipate as they await the unveiling of this project.

The original article was published on the Inter-European Division website.