Portrait of Dietrich Bonhoeffer pastor and virulent anti-Nazi who chose to speak out against hate and the fascist way. He was a good man who ended up dying about three weeks from the end of the war when Hitler ordered the extermination of anyone who was remotely connected to a plot against him.
This is a good if slightly jumbled (and according to some historically inaccurate) telling of Bonhoeffer’s life. At times the film moves through time and space to give a portrait of the man who stood up when others refused to do so. It’s a beautifully made film with a wonderful sense of place and containing some great performances.
The problem is the film’s construction isn’t really what it should be. The shifting time frames some times require a moment or two of adjustment. Where and when are we? Why the shift? It’s not always immediately clear. Additionally The film is constructed as an object lesson about a Christian martyr. We are not so much watching the story of a man but a lesson about a holy man that over sells and alters things (Bonhoeffer gives a moving speech on top of the make shift gallows as the heavens part as if welcoming him into the hands of god in a scene that plays out in ways created by the filmmakers). It’s not bad but it keeps things from being truly moving.
Worth a look if you are so inclined, the film is a good introduction to a man who died fighting tyranny, something that some feel we may soon have to do here in America.
(ADDENDUM: The film has become a source of controversy with the film being used as a lightning rod for white nationalist groups. I find at interesting considering that Bonhoeffer was anti-nazi and the white national groups lean into nazi ideas. I don't know what the official stance of Angel Studios is on the whole matter, however when I raised the issue via some questionable things I found on the internet the PR firm promoting the films was horrified.)
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