Bonhoeffer
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Movie Reviews of Bonhoeffer
Movie Review: A remarkable film about one man's conscience and courage.
Summary: 5 Stars
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in Breslau, Germany, in 1906, to wealthy, privileged, and well-connected parents. He received his doctorate in theology in 1927. At a time when Germany was reeling from her humiliation at the hands of the Allies after World War I, the proponents of National Socialism began to capture the loyalty of Germans who were desperate to recover their economic, cultural, political, and military glory. Bonhoffer searched his soul, his conscience, and his Bible, in an effort to decide where his responsibilities lie. His decision to risk his freedom and his life by actively resisting the Nazis will forever set him apart as a man of valor.
"Bonhoeffer" is a superb documentary. It is informative, well-researched, and intensely moving. Rare archival footage includes a scene in which Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli (the future Pope Pius XII), and Germany's vice chancellor, Franz von Papen, formally sign a concordat between the Holy See and the German Reich on July 20, 1933. The surrender of the Roman Catholic Church to Hitler's might at the expense of the helpless victims of Nazi terror makes Bonhoeffer's sacrifices all the more remarkable. There is also hard-hitting footage of Hitler and Goebbels spouting their venom before thousands of cheering and ebullient German citizens.
This ninety-minute documentary, in both black and white and color, includes comments by survivors, historians, and theologians who knew Bonhoeffer; their words lend gravity and verisimilitude to the film. These individuals describe Bonhoeffer as an inspiring teacher, a thoughtful writer of theological treatises, and finally, an active resister who took part in a failed conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer had an opportunity to stay in America, where, from a safe haven, he could have attempted to inspire resistance to the Nazi regime. However, Bonhoeffer could not bring himself to abandon his homeland at a time when she was under siege by an evil dictator.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer believed that religion is not an abstraction, but a way of life. It was his opinion that a man of God must care for all of his fellow human beings, and reach out to support them when they are in need. His example will forever inspire men and women of conscience as they continue to fight for the freedoms that we often take for granted. This film would be an excellent selection for high school and college students as part of a curriculum on the Holocaust, theology, and human rights.
Movie Review: The resisting disciple
Summary: 5 Stars
I knew next to nothing about Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life except that he was executed for involvement in a plot against Hitler. This film will fill in many of the gaps about Bonhoeffer's life, friends and mission.
Bonhoffer was one of a minority of German theologians who opposed Hitler's rise to power. Other churchmen retreated into conformity, cut their own deals with Hitler or were active in The Reich Church. There's nothing like a Christmas tree topped with a lighted swastika to drive home the reality of how far the Church would bend to accommodate the Nazis. This image, along with those of Hitler at rallies and posing with church leaders, are appalling but instructive
Director Martin Doblmeier interviewed Bonhoeffer's students, friends and relatives to make this moving film. The film takes us from Germany to Harlem, New York, where Bonhoeffer was bowled over by the ecstatic worship of black Americans. He later tied their religious spirit, nurtured in oppression, with that of the Jews of Germany. The film also tries to depict Bonhoeffer's struggle with the use of violence in the cause of good. Whether he made the right choice under his circumstances is a question that each must answer for themselves.
The film was shot on location in Germany, including the cell in which Bonhoeffer spent his final days. The extras include an interview with Doblmeier, who explains that his mission was not just to make a film, but to capture for posterity the memories of the living members of the Bonhoeffer circle.
Deeply affecting and challenging, especially to strict pacifists and to those who equate the gospel with their brand of nationalism.
Movie Review: Fascinating, comprehensive, and even-handed...
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched this documentary at the beginning of a seminary course on the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I was impressed on several levels. Of course, Bonhoeffer's life is captivating in its own right, but the movie did a stellar job of distilling the highlights of that life in a very accessible way. It covered a lot of details without getting bogged down with irrelevant minutiae. The folks who were interviewed included Bonhoeffer's best friend, several of his extended family members, and a few premier Bonhoeffer scholars. The pictures and video footage helped to move the story forward. And, most impressively, it actually included some of Bonhoeffer's writing and theology rather seamlessly within the context of telling his story, without choking on his often abstract ideas and without revealing a particular agenda of the producers.
Ultimately, I really appreciated this film. Several more hours would be required to fully cover someone as complicated as Bonhoeffer, but I feel confident that the important stuff was well-addressed. For those who have never heard of Bonhoeffer and those who have read much of his influential writing, this documentary will do well to vividly tell his story and explain some of his lingering influence that remains with us today. I'm happy to recommend it to anyone.
Movie Review: Compeling story of a theologian and anti-Hitler acrivist
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a compeling documentary about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a prominent Christian theologian. Bonhoeffer, who lived in Germany during the time of Nazi rule, ultimately gave his life in an effort to stop Hitler's tyranical rule and opression of the Jewish race.
The documentary explores the concept of Christian ethics, and shows how Bonhoeffer was able to reconcile seemingly contradictory beliefs of the sanctity of life and justice - to the point that he was willing to participate in the resistance's attempts to assasinate Hitler.
The documentary uses phenomenal footage of Hitler's reign, interviews with Bonhoeffer's friends, family, and students, and analysis from historians to vividly tell this story. The story has direct relevance to the world we live in today.
If you are interested in an uplifitng account of how God can use one ordinary man to make a difference, then this movie is for you. Or, if you simply want to watch an amazingly well told documentary about an important era in German history (without feeling preached at), then this film also is for you. It certainly makes you think about our current world politics from a fresh point of view.
A+ for content
A+ for presentation
Movie Review: Living upon what he believed
Summary: 5 Stars
Bonhoeffer was a German Christian theologian who worked during WWII in the Resistence against Hitler. He was imprisoned during the last years of the war, and little before the fall of Berlin he was killed. In prison he wrote his famous "Letters", his first book that I read, and which is a must read companion book to this dvd.
This is an excellent documentary, not only about the man, but about the times he lived in, the difficult task of having to decide between doing what God called us (in this case him) to do, or choosing not to get involved in what is going on around us. Bonhoeffer realized that he could not escape the war and go to America, and then expect to have any role in post-war Germany, preaching what people should do.
One of the great things he said was that whenever we read the Bible we should believe that God is speaking to us, right there, and right then. His crime, according to the Nazis, was that he reminded people who their real Fuhrer was: the Lord Jesus Christ.