Off the Record! Film crew turns Limerick into World War II Germany

ON THE banks of the Shannon, something unexpected is happening where once stood the Cleeve’s Condensed Milk Factory.

Old Traction Avant cars, soldiers in green, prisoners in coarse grey stripped material, and a pack of well-trained Black German Shepherds.

This is the set of God’s Spy, a major feature film set during World War II, narrating the true story of a German theologian and pastor who stood up to the Nazis.

Even though it is set in Berlin and has scenes in London, locations throughout Limerick have been transformed into 1940s Germany.

Leaning on a director’s chair, Producer, Mark O’Sullivan takes a drag on his cigarette before talking about the Irish-Belgian co-production.

“To access the European qualification, you have to shoot in two countries in Europe. We chose Limerick because of the landscape in and around the city,” he explains.

“There’s a bus journey that happens through the movie where Jonas Dassler is taken from prison to, unfortunately, his execution. The landscape up in The Burren really helped us through that.”

Speaking of the scenes that are being shot on the day, O’Sullivan explains the old Cleeves factory is doubling as 1943 Berlin Airport.

“It’s kind of weird. You’ve probably seen that massive green screen. So, effectively, what we do is shoot all of the people in front of that, and then in post-production, digitally put in the airport,” he says.

“We’re now shooting a scene at a concentration camp where a lot of prisoners are being loaded onto trucks,” he points out as dogs are barking in the background.

“You can hear the Limerick accent in those dogs, they’re great actors,” someone whispers!

As army boots step on concrete, “Shhhhh! Nice and quiet, everyone,” is shouted from the top of someone’s lungs. And for a moment, Cleeves goes silent.

I was on the set of Irish-Belgian co-production, God’s Spy, where the streets of Limerick have been standing in for 1940s London. Keep your eyes peeled @Limerick_Leader pic.twitter.com/sTdR0OkxGY

— Manon Gilbart (@ManonGilbart) January 19, 2023

Once the night falls, the God’s Spy crew makes its way to The Georgian Quarter, as the second location of the day is on Pery Square.

Most often, big film productions are in Dublin.

While being mindful of the icy side walks, Regional Film Manager at Film in Limerick, Paul Ryan, comments on what the Mid-west region has to offer.

“I think that we're a really film friendly region. I mean, Dublin and Wicklow have been massively successful, but there’s no novelty about making something there,” he states.

According to Paul, the Mid-west has something “fresh” to offer.

“When productions come here, they often say that we’ve never seen this before on camera. You tend to see the same things sort of again and again, the industry is very centralised,” he says.

Paul goes on to add: “We have the incredible and dramatic coastline of Clare, the Georgian Limerick, and a more industrial side in Limerick. I didn’t realise this when I was younger, but we have a lot of castles in the Mid-West – more than anywhere else in Ireland.”

As we approach the Newtown Pery area of the city, Paul says: “What we offer is a new possibility, where people can come, and the city is set up and ready, to sort of make things happen for people.”

With Film in Limerick, Paul and his crew go the extra mile when productions come in.

“We embrace them, and do everything we can to give them the best experience possible,” he says. From finding locations to casting to getting permissions for closing roads, the company certainly keeps busy.

On a misty Pery Square, a car is repeatedly being driven up and down the street while lovers stroll down what is doubling as London of the 1940s.

As he laughs at how gigantic the Limerick Leader / Limerick Live microphone is, an ecstatic Writer and Director, Todd Komarnicki, says of God’s Spy: “It’s a story of true courage, of speaking the truth to power – even if it costs you everything, including your life.”

For Kormanicki, God’s Spy tells a modern story, even though it’s set 80 years ago.

“It feels more pressing and important right now than it has since it occurred. It’s an important reminder that it’s not too late to be brave. We live in a time where political courage and spiritual courage has gone by the wayside, and I want to inspire people to remember that there's a beautiful courage that lives inside each of us,” he says.

The Director shares that the Treaty City has been very welcoming to him and his crew, and that he would "come back in a heartbeat."

After the final clap and a heart-warming round of applause, Kormanicki embraces some of his crew.

And, that's a wrap, everyone.