The Ravensbrück Prayer
THE ARTIST
Elias Dancey
I have been a filmmaker and animator for 26+ years, beginning in the late 90s using VHS video toasters, 16mm film, and the classic Oxberry Film Stand.
I run my own boutique animation studio “Studio Flatland” where we make content for brands, networks, non-profits - and even animated Days 1, 2 and 4 of Creation Week for The Institute of Creation Research.
I am also a Professional Fellow at the Maker Institute of Studio Art and Theology, and co-founder of the National Fantasy Museum.
THE STORY
In May 17, 1945, after the Ravensbruck concentration camp in Nazi Germany was liberated by the Russians, a prayer was found by the body of a little girl, having passed away prior to the death march that awaited the survivors. Ravensbruck was the only camp specifically for women and children. By the ending days of the war the death camp systems of Auschwitz were transferred to Ravensbruck for full scale extermination.
Nothing is known about this little girl, or the woman who wrote this extraordinary prayer.
Telling her story, in a creative but truthful and historical way required research and much prayer of my own. A story developed that is both unique to the atrocities of Ravensbrück, and personal for our characters: little Gabrielle and Marisa, whose voice in prayer is the song and sound of this short 4 minute film.
The story is a demonstration of ultimate forgiveness set against ultimate malevolence, both collectively and personally. Criticism against Christian forgiveness attacks from two sides. Minimizing its need: “I am a good person, My small sins don’t matter.” And maximizing incredulity: “So Hitler could go to heaven?”
The film addresses the latter, depicting a real life act of mercy for the eternal souls of the Nazis, lifted up to God in prayer by their victims. If that terrible extreme is true: that such profound, inexplicable forgiveness is possible; might the other extreme be answered as well: that our “fractional sins,” so easily shrugged off and discounted, might also require forgiveness?
While the film is heavy, hope, from that seed that must die and fall to the ground, is also planted.
THE PRAYER
O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will,
but also those of evil will.
But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted upon us;
remember the fruits we have borne thanks to this suffering
our fellowship,
our loyalty,
our humility,
our courage,
our generosity,
the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this;
and when they come to judgment,
let all the fruits that wee have borne be their forgiveness.
Amen.
The Women of Ravensbrück
MARISA, The Voice of the Prayer
GABRIELLE, The Little Girl of Grace
JOHANNA, The Woman Who Escaped
IRMA GRESE, The Hyena of Auschwitz
THE FILM
Like the hand-written prayer, the film be artfully hand-crafted with traditional media.
Animation, using carbon-blend pencils for a deep jet-black richness that will add texture along with the hand-wrinkled paper it’s drawn on. Backgrounds, rendered in charcoal, evoking the beauty of black-and-white film – and yet a reminder of the ashes of suffering, as this prayer is lifted up to the heavens.
For an authentic 1940s texture I will photograph the final imagery on filmstock, and send the audio track over short-wave radio for the real distorted muffle and crackle of an analog tuner.
The aesthetic is to lovingly preserve the raw expressiveness of the sketched line of rough animation, where the artist’s performance is recorded with hand, and pencil, and paper.
ARTISTIC INFLUENCES
Sylvain Chomet
Auteur Animation Director
Mel Gibson
Apocalypto
Martin Scorsese
Silence
William Kentridge
Felix in Exile / Charcoal
Pencil Test Animation of all sorts is also a love, and a major influence.
Like these frames from Disney’s star animator Glen Keane
FINAL THOUGHTS
This piece is very delicate and precious to handle. It is about the topic of deep pain - and the ability to reach deep forgiveness. It has been an intense journey simply learning about Ravensbrück, and a spiritual journey praying on the nature of forgiveness.
The film will feature the prayer, voice the prayer, and be a prayer.
Our God is a redeemer. And we need redemption. All of us.
