133/Art and Spirituality/An Interview with

An outstanding movie requires not only a good script, but also good actors who are able to completely interpret the story, and good props and setting as well. But most of all, it requires a good director who is able to give soul to the film. Mr. Helmut Nitzschke is such a director. A versatile artist at his trade, Mr. Nitzschke not only directs films but also writes for operas. Back in 1972 when he was only 35, he received a local award for best director. Since then, he has received many outstanding reviews from Germany's Lexikon der DDR-Stars, and has several times been named Person of the Year in Germany. Two years ago, Mr. Nitzschke finally found the true spiritual path he had been seeking throughout his life. Today he is leading a life that weaves together art and spirituality. The following is an interview with Mr. Helmut Nitzschke.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your family background?

A: I grew up in a Christian family. When I was little, my grandmother taught me the teachings of Jesus Christ. She warned me to guard against those who didn't believe in the existence of spirituality. That's why I have never identified with materialism. All my life I have searched for spirituality. My parents are both artists. I had a very happy and carefree childhood. However, all this changed after the war broke out. Our happy life was completely shattered. My life experiences influenced my choice of career. The painful times I experienced during the war made me determined to do something with my life, so that I could help prevent wars.

Q: I understand that your father is a painter. Why did you choose filmmaking as your career?

A: The thing that fascinated me about movies is that they unite story-telling and painting. A movie is an animated painting. It is also a story with sound and images. It enables people to find something unchangeable, something eternal in the midst of something transient. These are the reasons that I chose this career.

Q: What kind of messages do you wish to convey to your audience?

A: Ever since I started filmmaking in my twenties, my goal has been to help my audience discover their own self through their surroundings. I hope people will understand that God exists in all living things. I hope that when people see a lizard, a person, or a dog, they feel a sense of compassion and realize that God takes care of all beings, big and small. If we can reach this realization, it will be such a beautiful state. However, to convey all this through a movie is not an easy task. It takes a tremendous amount of time and effort.

Q: Would you please talk about the first time you watched a video lecture by the Supreme Master Ching Hai?

A: The love I saw in Master's eyes has been very deeply etched in my mind. When I first heard Her voice, my immediate response was: "Oh my! This is the living God!" After that, there were many other events guiding me to Her. For years, I had been seeking the Truth. I think that this yearning for the Truth is an artist's true blessing and mission. But after I first met Master Ching Hai, it seemed as though I had received divine guidance that led me to the Truth and to Her.