The Plague and COVID-19

The Oberammergau Passion Play, an epic five-hour presentation of Christ’s suffering and death, is a centuries-old tradition that is practiced every decade in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau. A new pandemic cast its shadow on the 2020 production, but in 2022, the villagers are determined to fulfill their vow and stage the play once again, despite the challenges.

In 1633, the village of Oberammergau vowed to present a play depicting the suffering and death of Jesus Christ every ten years if they were spared extinction during the Black Death plague that swept through Europe. Oberammergau has kept its word for more than 400 years. This upcoming documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at the village’s extensive preparations for the play and the challenges they faced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned for an inside view of an epic and timeless tradition.