And When They Shall Ask is a film directed by John Morrow, and produced by David Dueck from Winnipeg. Dueck is the director of a nonprofit organization called Mennonite Media Society, which produces Mennonite films. Dueck also taught University and has won multiple awards for his films. The run time of this particular video is 88 minutes and covers history on Mennonites and their experience of Russia from 1788 to present. Throughout the film there are various layers which fully describe each turn of events. This is achieved through a compilation of film footage, old photographs and illustrations, interviews of witnesses, re-enacted scenes and narration. During the film, there is some conversation spoken in the German language. This is not translated for the English viewer. However, the narration which delivers the bulk of the information is in English.

To start off, a brief history of the Mennonite faith such as the first Mennonite Anabaptists, Menno Simons, and their beliefs is provided. One of the several featured interviewees contributes to this with their knowledge of what it means to be a true Mennonite. Following this, Dueck’s film gives detailed information on various events as the Mennonites endured hardship and turmoil under the ruling of Lenin and Stalin, through WWI, WWII, the civil war, and attacks of Machno. Furthermore, the viewer is informed of the harsh realities of Russian invasions, separation of families, travelling through the red gate, the secret police, exile, famine and more. Other aspects on a lighter note are touched on such as the earlier “golden years” of Russia for the Mennonites, prior to such difficult times.

As much of the content is quite heavy, there are moments of the film that may be disturbing for some, such as bombing, shootings, presumed dead bodies, and brief moments of abrupt violent attacks. There are also short discussions of how some were tormented, including sexual abuse. Families may want to keep this in mind when considering this film.

Over all, the film contains a great deal of information on these particular events, and is yet another helpful building block to further understanding Mennonites and their significant history.

-Teanna Rozek
2018-08-02T23:20:28+00:00

Bibliography

“And When They Shall Ask”. David Dueck Film Production. Mennonite Media Society. 2010.

“David Dueck Filmography”. CMW Journal. Center for Mennonite Writing at Goshen College. July 2018. Web. <https://www.mennonitewriting.org/journal/4/5/david-dueck-filmography/>

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Home for the Homeless, is a 2008 Dueck film production, which explains the lives of Mennonites who escaped Russia and fled to Paraguay. The timeline of this is from the 1930’s to 1980. The story is narrated in English while actors in some scenes speak in German. For those who only speak English, some of the conversations held between characters cannot be understood, as some is left without translation. From beginning to end, the viewer is given a glimpse of what life might have been like for these people throughout their settlement and growth in Gran Chaco. Significant moments in history are highlighted in a way that is educational. For those interested in Mennonite history, this film acts as a helpful contribution.

A variety of scenes carry out well illustrated information such as travelling, types of transportation, refugee camps, and different types of work including taming wild cattle and milking. For additional understanding, maps are shown to describe parts of the story, along with old film footage and photos. There is a discussion of how the Mennonites arrived at their assigned location with an explanation of conditions and hazards of their newly inhabited land at the time. There is also some brief background history regarding the Russian Mennonites in order to explain their experiences prior to, and following, the Bolshevik war.

For a time, the Mennonites shared their homeland with another group of people called the Lengua tribe. The ways in which these differing cultures co-existed is addressed in detail, along with the Mennonite’s struggles and successes in the area, as they made way for 2nd and 3rd generations. Agriculture, farming and factory processes are explained. Schools, churches and hospitals are spoken about being that teaching, health care and employment are/were a large part of the community’s activity. Much of the film’s information is easily understandable, moving at a slow but steady pace. The film can be watched as a family; however it is advised to be aware that there are some scenes that may be uncomfortable, such as bombing, a vaccine injection in an arm, and wounds being un-bandaged. Nothing graphic is shown in these.

-Teanna Rozek
2018-08-02
Bibliography
Home for the Homeless (Paraguay). Dueck Film Production. 2008.

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