LOCATIONS throughout Limerick will beย transformedย intoย 1940โs Germany this month for the filming of a major feature film set during the second world war.
‘Godโs Spy’, the true story a German theologian and pastor who stood up to the Nazis, currently being filmed in the Mid-West, is directed by prolific screenwriter, producer and novelist Toddย Komarnicki.
His credits include, โSullyโ, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks and โThe Professor and the Madmanโ, starring Mel Gibson and Sean Penn.ย He also produced the Christmas blockbuster favourite โElfโ, starring Will Ferrell.
Set in Berlin during the Third Reich, ‘Godโs Spy’ tells the extraordinary true story of Dietrich Bonhoe๏ฌer, who lived his life with uncompromising political and spiritual courage while speaking truth to power in his attempt to save countless Jewish lives.
Bonhoe๏ฌer was among only a few clergy who was early to recognise the dangerย of Hitlerโs anti-Semitic rhetoric and,whileย the German church acquiesced to Hitler, Bonhoe๏ฌer took him on. First from the pulpitโ and then from the front lines.
According to Todd Komarnicki the movie is about” a man for all time”.
“He was a fearless martyr who brought wartime atrocities to the worldโs attention and wouldnโt be silenced even when no one believed him.โ
Executive producer Mark OโSullivan said the ๏ฌlm is being made to remind us that the truth alwaysย sets us free no matterย the cost.
“Dietrichย paid the ultimate price for the truth he proclaimed and that is a story not just of another time, but for all time.โ
The producers of the โฌ22-million Irish-Belgian co-production,ย whose base is atย Innovate Limerickโs Engine building in Limerick City,ย have been working closely with Film in Limerick to achieve their vision here.
Regional Film Manager Paul C Ryanย said:ย โItโs just brilliant to have Todd and his team filming in Limerick and Clare and Tipperary. Weโre delighted to see so many locally based crew working on this film and to showcase all that the Mid-West has to offer as a film-friendly locationโ.
Explainingย why he chose Limerick and the Mid-West as a location, Director Komarnicki ย said: โWe searched high and low for the right location to film ‘Godโs Spy’ and the region came out tops for us.
“The talented crew base, unbelievable locations, and above all a willingness from the councils to do what it takes to support a production of this scale, made all the difference. We have had an incredible experience filming here in the Mid-Westโ.
As well as utilising locally-based crew, Godโs Spy has some major international talents on board. Director of Photography is Oscar nominatedย and BAFTA-winning Cinematographer John Mathieson (Gladiator, The Phantom of the Opera, Pan), and the Production Designer is John Beard (Brazil, The History Boys).
Jonasย Dassler, breakout star of The Golden Glove, plays the lead role alongside Flula Borg (The Suicide Squad, Pitch Perfect 2), David Jonsson (Rye Lane, Industry), August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds, A Hidden Life), Moritz Bleibtreu (World War Z, Run Lola Run), and Clarke Peters (The Wire, The Man Who Fell to Earth).
Among the locations that have been usedย for filming are Castle Oliver, a baronial style residence in County Limerick; OโBrienโs Bridge and the Shannon River doubling as the Danube; Fanoreย beach and Kinturk in Clare; Swiss Cottage in Tipperary and Limerick City’s Georgian Quarter standing in for 1940โs London.
‘Godโs Spy’ is expectedย to premiere early next year.
