Pioneers in Mexico was directed, edited and produced by Otto Klassen. This documentary explains the history of the Mennonites who emigrated from Canada to Mexico in the years 1922-26. The film narrows in on the work that men and women did to establish a successful community in a vastly different land than they were previously accustomed to. Klassen utilizes video and old photos from the Mennonite Historical Society of Mexico along with other sources such as Heinz Berger and George K. Epp to give viewers a clear idea of the facts presented. With narration by George Rempel Jr., this film is great for those interested in history related to agriculture, and provides information on various types of farming from the past. The film runs at 54 minutes and the content is appropriate for all ages. (Please note there is one scene containing hog butchering, however this is not elaborate).
The film discusses the items and livestock brought over from Canada, processes and struggles of adapting to a new climate, and explanations of each type of field work (i.e. growing corn or processing dairy). Time is also given to describe their faith and worship services. One of the main issues that caused great difficulty in their settling was the tough soil which their earliest machinery could not handle. This led to new mechanization and evolution of farm equipment to better suit Mexico’s conditions.
As the film continues, there is information on building styles of the villages, and comparing past to present with the schools, churches, homes, and machinery. Reasons for emigration are discussed, as is Mexico’s weather conditions and how this affected the Mennonite farmers in their day-to-day tasks. The narrator describes all kinds of work that these Mennonites underwent including planting, irrigating and fertilizing, growing, harvesting, and marketing. This also looks further into feed mills and processes, raising cattle, varying seasons and affects, the highs and lows of the economy of such areas, and the transportation of goods/products. Other details include information on the factories, foundries, entrepreneurialism, employment and ownership.
-Teanna Rozek – August 2018
Bibliography
“Pioneers in Mexico”. An Otto Klassen Film Production 1997.
The film New Beginnings (1947- 1948 Mennonite Refugees to South America), is a Mennonite Central Committee production from 1988, with a run time totaling 121 minutes. The first part- Berlin Exodus, is the longest running of the three, being 56 minutes, and acts as an introduction to the story of Mennonite refugees and their experiences throughout 1947 and 1948. Peter Dyck gives a succinct history lesson from personal experience, while using a chalkboard to illustrate as if teaching in a class room. This segment discusses MCC relief workers, the Mennonite camps in Berlin, their flight from Russia, and more. Dyck explains what it was like to work for the MCC, and how the Mennonites reacted to MCC’s accommodation and efforts. He also talks about his experiences in being responsible for a large number of people and how he dealt with issues regarding this while being a part of the relief program and at the same time, answering to the military.