The Pacifist Who Went to War Film Review



The Pacifist Who Went to War was produced by Joe Macdonald in 2002, directed by David Neufeld, along with the National Film Board of Canada. The film is 51 minutes long, with narration by Margaret Nagle. Ideologies of WWII and Mennonite beliefs intertwine in telling stories of pacifism, alternative and active service. Complexities of these bring forth discussions of conflict in the Mennonite communities during a time of crisis. This narrows in on Canadian history, specifically in Winkler, Manitoba. Two featured speakers, John and Ted Friesen, speak of their experiences and the ways in which they were affected by difficult situations caused by the war.

Much like many other Mennonite historical films, a brief history of Mennonite communities is illustrated. Among the two Friesen brothers, there is a commonality of beliefs, while also differing, being that one brother enlisted and the other became a C.O. (Conscientious Objector). This becomes the framework for the film’s discussion, as they each tell their side of how these choices affected their lives, and of those around them.

This film uses old photographs and film footage in combination with interviews and research to describe topics such as clashing cultures, court processes for alternative service approval, Hitler’s rule, and reconciliation. Some of the discussion includes the problems faced by Mennonites who went to war, which was frowned upon by the community. The division that this brought about is explained, and various voices contribute their contrasting opinions on how this should or should not have been. Others speak on these subjects young and old, including interviewees Anton Dyck and Harvey Friesen.

The film delivers its facts and information in an organized manner, while supplemented with visual interest. Though the film contains heavy subject matter, the film can be watched with the whole family.

-Teanna Rozek
2018-08-31

Bibliography

“The Pacifist Who Went to War”. National Film Board of Canada. August, 2018. Web. <http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=51136>

“The Pacifist Who Went to War”. Joe Macdonald. National Film Board of Canada. 2002.

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I Remember (A Memoir by Elisabeth Löwen – Translated by Helene Rempel Klassen)


“Liesel and Helene are second cousins- their grandfathers were brothers Gustaf and Dietrich Rempel of Gnadenfeld, Molotschna, Russia/USSR (now part of Ukraine). While Dietrich was able to emigrate from the USSR to Canada in 1926, Gustaf died tragically in the USSR. Liesl and Helene met only once, in 1988, during Liesl’s first trip to Canada.

During the last two decades Helene has found and translated many of her Grandfather Dietrich’s journals- some of which have been published, with the remainder scheduled to be published in 2018-19. After reading Liesl’s story, Helene thought that she would like to translate it into English, so that more of Liesl and Helene’s relatives and friends could read this important story.”

“Elisabeth (Liesl) Löwen- was born in 1929, in Gnadenfeld, Molotschna in the southern USSR, where she grew up in a Mennonite family and community. During the Stalin Era Liesl and her family experienced much privation and governmental abuse: the unjust imprisonment of her father; forced repatriation to Russia after the family had fled to Germany during World War II; forced labour in the Siberian forests, and much more. Through it all, Liesl maintained a grateful heart and a persistent faith in God.”

“Helene (Leni) Rempel Klassen- was born in 1928, in Ebenthal, Caucasus USSR. When Helene was onlya a year old her family received permission to leave the USSR and emigrate to Canada. The family moved all the way across the country to Abbotsford in the Fraser Valley, where Helene grew up, went to school, married and raised her family.”

Price: $18.00

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