A passionate and insightful exclusive interview with writer/director TODD KOMARNICKI discussing not only the “making of” BONHOEFFER: PASTOR. SPY. ASSASSIN., but the impact and significance of the film as well as Dietrich Bonhoeffer himself.
SYNOPSIS: As the world teeters on the brink of annihilation, Dietrich Bonhoeffer is swept into the epicenter of a deadly plot to assassinate Hitler. With his faith and fate at stake, Bonhoeffer must choose between upholding his moral convictions or risking it all to save millions of Jews from genocide. Will his shift from preaching peace to plotting murder alter the course of history or cost him everything?
BONHOEFFER: PASTOR. SPY. ASSASSIN is not only interesting and engaging (and one of my favorite films of 2024) but focuses on the crux of Bonhoeffer’s philosophies and key moments in his life which give us a particularly detailed tapestry of the man during a dangerous time of global upheaval.
In this exclusive interview with writer/director TODD KOMARNICKI, we discuss the impact and significance of BONHOEFFER as Todd highlights Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s magnetic personality and the importance of his story, especially the lesser-known aspects of his life, such as the church’s takeover by Hitler. The exemplary casting of Jonas Dassler as Bonhoeffer, award-worthy cinematography by John Mathieson, and production design by John Beard emphasize the authenticity and attention to detail in the film’s overall design and the film’s emotional depth and visual storytelling.
As we dove deeper into Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story, we focused on some of the key challenges and considerations Todd faced in capturing the authenticity of not only the time but also the accuracy of events while developing a cinematic visual style and establishing an emotional tonal bandwidth, among them:
- what inspired Todd to bring Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story to the screen
- Bonhoeffer’s writings as being inspiring and magnetic
- Bonhoeffer’s heroism, faithfulness, and honesty about his doubts
- recognizing the cinematic potential of Bonhoeffer’s life, especially the unique aspect of how Hitler took over the church, which Todd felt was an important story to bring to light
- wanting to explore Bonhoeffer’s perspective and lens on the world, and create an intimate, emotional, and authentic portrayal of his life and struggles
- casting of Jonas Dassler as Dietrich Bonhoeffer (a riveting award-worthy performance by Dassler), David Jonsson as Frank Fisher, Clarke Peters as Reverend Powell Sr., and more
- the extensive research and collaboration with the props, costume, and set design teams to ensure every element was historically accurate and intentionally placed
- extensive location scouting to find the perfect settings that matched the period, rather than settling for locations that were just convenient
- production designer John Beard’s impeccable work
- working with cinematographer John Mathieson to develop visual style and emotional tonal bandwidth through location, lighting, and lensing
- developing an authentic visual vocabulary for the film, focusing on intimacy and seeing the world through Bonhoeffer’s POV
- marrying the openness and vulnerability of living in a dangerous world with the deep intensity and intimacy of Bonhoeffer’s spiritual journey and relationship with God
- visual contrasts between the Bonhoeffer home, a pastoral seminary, and the cold gray military manse of the Nazis and carefully crafting the visual grammar to reflect the thematic and emotional shifts of the story
- painting with light
- Mathieson’s creative lighting techniques enhanced the intimacy and emotional impact of interior scenes, even in spaces with limited room to maneuver; Mathieson’s innovative approaches like floating balloons to create the desired lighting; the theatricality and power of a third act prison scene that transitions into an almost ethereal death in a gallows
- using lighting and lensing to develop a visual grammar that would draw the audience into Bonhoeffer’s world and convey the film’s themes of faith, courage, and the struggle against oppression
- costume design and authenticity with meticulous attention to details like period-accurate uniforms, ranks, and equipment for the Nazi characters to maintain authenticity
- working with editor Blu Murray
- the importance of following the script and the emotional impact of specific scenes and moments; editing choices and “killing your darlings”
- Murray’s subtle touch with the edit and his ability to capture the tenderness and humanity of the story
- importance of unhurried shots and “biblical pauses” which create a sense of pause and reflection while allowing the audience to absorb moments, emotions, and history
- Todd’s vision for the film to be a beautiful, old-fashioned storytelling experience
- and more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 11/15/2024
