This is a 15 minute version of Otto’s Passion, the story of filmmaker Otto Klassen, one of Canada’s most fascinating, prolific and yet obscure filmmakers.

Otto was raised a Mennonite in Ukraine during the 1930’s, surviving Stalin’s repressive Soviet Union and then under Hitler’s invading army during World War 2. Fleeing the destruction of post war Europe, Otto and his family found a temporary home in the jungles of Paraguay before ultimately immigrating to Winnipeg, Canada. It was there, in the basement of the local CBC, where a friend taught Otto how to edit, write and produce films.

Once established as a filmmaker, Otto was determined to capture the Mennonite story on film. The story of both struggle, tragedy and freedom as he had lived. It would become Otto’s mission, his purpose and arguably his obsession for more than forty years

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