By Way of the Stars (TV)

Der lange Weg des Lukas B. - German title

By Way of the Stars - Canadian title

Lukas B. - German title

Všetko je vo hviezdach – Czechoslovakian title

De Avontuurlijke reis van Lukas B. - Dutch title

No Caminho das Estrelas - Portuguese title

By Way of the Stars - English title

A 1992 German, Canadian TV miniseries co-production [Iduna Film Produktiongesellschaft, TV- 60 Film Produktion, ZDF (Munich), Sullivan Entertainment, CBC, Disney (Toronto)]

Producer: Kevin Sullivan

Director: Allan King

Story: “The Long Journey of Lukas B.” by Willi Fährmann

Teleplay: Marlene Matthews

Photography: Manfred Guthe [color]

Music: John Welsman

Running time: 4 episodes x 60 minutes

Cast:

Lukas Beinmann - Zachary Bennett

Ursula von Knabig - Gema Zamprogna

Karl Beinmann - Christian Kohlund

Maria Beinmann - Anja Kruse

Mutter - Jutta Speidel

Friedrich Brunneck - Dietmar Schönherr (Dietmar Schonleiten)

Hausierer Nathan - Jan Rubes

Otto von Lebrecht - Hannes Jaenicke

Christina von Knabig - Dominique Sanda (Dominique Varaigne)

Henirich von Knabig - Gunther Maria Halmer

Diener Jürgen - Volker Lechtenbrink

Ursula - Sarah Polley

Helmut - Andrew Bednarski

Ben Davis - Michael Mahonen

Mathias - Gavin Magrath

Franz - Toby Proctor

Hans - Jiri Dolanski

Dietrich von Brabent - Damon Redfern

Virgil Johnson - Dennis Strong

Franoise - Tantoo Cardinal (Rose Cardinal)

Professor Bilby - John Neville

Roger Lemieux - Albert Millaire

Priest - R.H. Thomson (Robert Holmes)

Annie Pyle - Frances Bay (Frances Goffman)

White Feather - Michelle St. John

Piet - Jan Nemejovský

Charlotte von Brabent - Katarina Krizanova

Johanna von Brabent - Suzanna Jeserka

Albert - Miroslav Donutil

Baron Lyczinsky - Vladimir Durdik

Magistrate - Peter Debnar

Captain Harris - Chris Wiggins

Captain Hebert - John Gilbert

Mr. Passlinger - David Fox

Black Thunder - Eric Schweig (Ray Thrasher)

Tomorrow - Devon Codrington

Forest Beautiful - Carol Greyetes

Chief - Richard Maracle

Old sage - Arnie General

Cree Chief - Gordon Tootoosis

Sioux - Mardy Lucier-Porte

Cree sorcerers - Vern Harper, Denis Lacroix

Katar Krizanova - Charlotte von Brabent
Trading post owner - Michael Stevens

Sam - Victor Ertmanis

With: John Bourgeous (John Bourgeois)

Set in 1865, the story is about a thirteen-year-old boy from Prussia, named Lukas, who moves to America to escape family problems and a dangerous enemy. Along his journey he meets a young girl named Ursula and the two children struggle to survive the difficult frontier lifestyle.

This German, Canadian television mini-series was co-produced in 1992 by Sullivan Entertainment and German Beta-Taurus Kirch Group, that begins in 19th century Prussia, then travels through post-U.S. Civil War Charleston to the ‘Canadas’ and the West. It is a young boy’s version of “Dances with Wolves”. The six-hour mini-series is based on a popular German children’s novel called “The Long Journey of Lukas B.” The movie was produced in association with ZDF, at the time, Germany’s largest Broadcaster, CBC and Disney Channel. This mini-series was filmed entirely in Uxbridge, Ontario and was nominated for 2 Gemini awards.

YouTube trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5gZo-0GPU4