The Miracle of Rohr

For this Baroqueblockbuster episode, Kama traveled to Rohr an hour north of Munich, tucked into Bavaria's hop-growing countryside to film Constantin Pelka inside the abbey church. Almost invisible on any tourist map, the church holds what may be the boldest technical feat of the Baroque: a multi-ton sculptural group, the Virgin Mary lifted by two angels, hanging in mid-air above the apostles at her empty tomb with no visible support. Egid Quirin Asam hid an iron skeleton inside two small flower garlands held by puttos — and built the whole construction from stucco, straw, and wood instead of Bernini's marble, because marble would have made it impossible. The church is the stage. Light enters through hidden windows at different angles throughout the day: morning on Mary ascending, midday on the apostles below. Asam choreographed the scene to change depending on when you arrive. Kama captured it across those hours. Asam was 29 when he completed it.