The Ode to Joy(Movie, 2006)

Baruto no Gakuen (バルトの楽園) or Ode to Joy is a Japanese film released in 2006 and based on the true story of the Bandō prisoner-of-war camp in World War I. It depicts the friendship of the German POWs with the director of the camp and local residents at the stage of Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture in Japan. The film, which explores the cultural interactions between the prisoners and the Japanese, starred Swiss actor Bruno Ganz and Ken Matsudaira. It was directed by Masanobu Deme. Baruto no Gakuen is also called "The Bearded Orchestra". This title was derived from the Bandō camp's commandant, Toyohisa Matsue, who was noted for his "imposing" Wilhelmine beard. ()