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Documentary

Zwischen Himmel und Erde

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH // 

ZWISCHEN HIMMEL UND ERDE

Documentary · 64 mins · German with English subtitles · 2020

Once in the little village of Ahnatal-Weimar, near the city of Kassel, there were three bronze bells hung in the church tower. During World War 1, two of the three bells were taken from the tower to be made into ammunition. In the year 1920, the village decided to trade the one remaining bell for three steel bells. These bells have hung there ever since and have now rusted through completely. The «Three steel sisters» have witnessed 100 years of village history and now their time has come.

But every end brings with it a new beginning. The church congregation came together to raise the funds for a set of new bronze bells. Through the process they experience what can be achieved with diligence, team work and the sweat of one's brow. After a long process they finally achieve what they had set out to do. Four new bronze bells finally make their way into the church tower.

The filmmaker Zenon Kristen, who grew up in Ahnatal-Weimar himself, accompanies the village on its journey which takes him to places unforeseen.

What began as an intimate documentary of Ahnatal-Weimar church's new bronze bells, quickly developed into a much more complicated story that extends far beyond the village borders. It is a film about how a village bands together, the value of peace in turbulent times, an almost forgotten ancient art form, and a sound which is too often ignored.

Zwischen Himmel und Erde Poster

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH (English Title) · ZWISCHEN HIMMEL UND ERDE (Original Title) ·

 

A NOSTA FILMS Production in association with

the Evangelical church community AHNATAL-WEIMAR

Starring

UTE DILGER · THOMAS DILGER · THOMAS RAFFLER · UDU P. LEIS · FRIEDRICH LUNCKE · FRITZ FRÖLICH · ALBERT BACHERT CHRISTIANE BACHERT · JOSEF FLIER · STEFFEN MODDROW · WOLFRAM SPYRA

Directors of Photography ZENON KRISTEN · HARRY BESEL  

Assistant Director EIKE BISCHOFF · NIK BACZEWSKI  

Story Editor FRANZISKA KRAMER

Sound Mastering HARRY BERNSTEIN

Written, Produced, Directed, and Edited by ZENON KRISTEN

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH // ZWISCHEN HIMMEL UND ERDE
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WINNER - Berlin Indie Film Festival - 20
WINNER - Venice Film Awards - Sept 2020-
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Montreal Independen
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Essex DocFest - 202
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WINNER - Rome Independent Prisma Awards
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