A Film Recently Released about Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer
By erin conner, writer and communications associate
After 12 years in the making, Bonhoeffer opened in 2,000 theaters across the country starting on November 22. Faith-based films like this one raise thought-provoking questions that lead viewers to explore their own faith and actions in their spheres of influence, as well as the implications of their actions in shaping the contours of culture and history.
Preview the trailer of this film here: https://youtu.be/eK2sPrMlsQs
photo credit: angelstudios.com
This movie is inspired by Eric Metaxas' New York Times bestselling book in which Metaxas "takes both strands of Bonhoeffer's life—the theologian and the spy—and draws them together to tell a searing story of incredible moral courage in the face of monstrous evil" (Amazon.com). In Bonhoeffer, Metaxas presents the account of Bonhoeffer's life using primary source documents, including his heart-wrenching decision to leave the safe haven of America to return to Hitler's Germany, involvement in the famous Valkyrie plot and in 'Operation 7,' the effort to smuggle Jews into Switzerland, and his lifelong dedication to sharing the tenets of his faith."
In the book, Metaxas shares a story through personal letters, detailed journal entries, and firsthand personal accounts to reveal a glimpse into Bonhoeffer's life.
According to Angel Studios, the film is "written and directed by Todd Komarnicki (Sully and Elf), and produced by a talented group with credits including X-Men, Bonhoeffer follows the harrowing journey of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a resistance fighter and pastor who became one of the most well-known German theologians of the century, and his fight to live with uncompromising political and spiritual courage amid the turmoil in Berlin during the rise and reign of the Third Reich."
The overview of the film provided by Angel Studio states, "For this faithful pastor and famously dedicated pacifist, the path ahead was unprecedented and impossible when Hitler’s regime assumed control not only of Germany but of the attitudes toward Jews—even within the churches. Bonhoeffer realizes he’s among the only clergy who recognized, early on, the increasing danger of Hitler’s anti-Semitic propaganda. When the German church caves and submits to Hitler, Bonhoeffer decides to take on the Führer himself. His fight with the infamous tyrant begins behind the pulpit, but soon takes him to the front lines of history’s biggest global war" (Angel.com).
Although reviews are mixed, this faith-based film deserves America's attention. In a culture that is rather silent about existential questions such as "Does the end ever justify the means?," "What is worth dying for?," and "Are all forms of self-sacrifice virtuous?" this film serves as a springboard for important and related philosophical, political, and Biblical discourses.
Learn more about the making of this film here.
