Synopsis
- Auschwitz – unique symbol of methodically perfected horror, and at the same time destination for daily streams of tourists. How can an encounter with this place avoid the banality of a visit? This question was asked by New York Zen master Roshi Bernhard Glassman. His answer: the „Auschwitz Retreat“. He invites people of different ethnicity and belief to face Auschwitz directly and without cover. The group will spend five days in meditation, silence, prayer and sharing on the very grounds of the termination camp. An encounter happens between Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists. Descendants of
victims meet descendants of perpetrators.
The film portrays five participants and follows closely their inner development. They are changing. Beliefs are undermined, old wounds torn open, reconciliation begins. It is no longer they who come to Auschwitz, it is Auschwitz that comes to them. In silence they bear witness to what happened there.
Crew
- Director: Christof Wolf
- Screenplay: Jason Schmidt, Christof Wolf, Ron Schmidt
- Director of photography: Soltan Honti, Soltan Honti
- Editor (Cut): Jason Schmidt
- Producer: Christof Wolf, Ron Schmidt
- Production company: Loyola Productions Munich GmbH
- coproduced by: Renovabis
Awards
- (2008) 3 Silver Telly Awards Kategorien: Cinematographie, Filmmusik u Spiritualität, USA
- (2008) Redemptive Storyteller Award, Virginia Beach, USA
- (2009) Best Documentary, V. International Catholic Festival of Christian Documentary Films and TV Programs MAGNIFICAT, Weißrussland
Festivals
- (2008) Redemptive Film Festival, Virginia Beach, USA
- (2008) Religion Today - XI. Internationalen Filmfestival für Cinema und Religion, Trient, Rom, Italien
- (2009) European Spiritual Film Festival, Paris, Frankreich
- (2010) SIGNIS - WACC, 17. Europäischen Fernsehfestival für religiöse Programme, Berlin, Deutschland
- (2010) CULTURE&CULTURES Intercultural International Film Festival, Lempaut, Frankreich
- (2009) V. International Catholic Festival of Christian Documentary Films and TV Programs MAGNIFICAT, Weißrussland
