Bonhoeffer (2003)

72% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(649 ratings)

Culled from an array of archival footage, on-location shooting, dramatic narration, and interviews with family, friends, and historians, the documentary Bonhoeffer strives to recreate the life of the theologian who openly railed against Hitler's growing stronghold on Germany and beyond in the years… More Culled from an array of archival footage, on-location shooting, dramatic narration, and interviews with family, friends, and historians, the documentary Bonhoeffer strives to recreate the life of the theologian who openly railed against Hitler's growing stronghold on Germany and beyond in the years leading up to World War II. A devout Christian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer organized the Confessing Church in the early '30s, urging his following to join forces with the Jews in fighting the Third Reich. Bonhoeffer's efforts reached their zenith when he and others mounted assassination attempts on the Führer. Klaus Maria Brandauer gives voice to many of Bonhoeffer's writings, and Desmond Tutu and John de Gruchy are among the film's interviewees. After being rejected from the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, Bonhoeffer was screened at local churches in and around Park City, attracting attention from distributors, and eventually, a limited U.S. release in the summer of 2003. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Martin Doblmeier
Written By: Martin Doblmeier
Genres: Documentary, Faith & Spirituality, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jun 20, 2003 Limited
On DVD: Apr 20, 2004
Studio: First Run Features

Critic Reviews

Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News
There is more to the philosophy and faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer than a 90-minute documentary can begin to cover, but this is a powerful and timely introduction.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A heroic odyssey that is illuminated with admirable clarity.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Bonhoeffer is PBS-dry at times, but its portrait of a latter-day martyr is undeniably poignant and thought-provoking.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Whatever form the movie takes, it's right and fitting that such a life gets our attention.
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post
There is both spiritual and historical substance in the things said, and such obvious reverence for the subject, that the film ultimately has a charming charmlessness.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
It never quite escapes the classroom and church group, and it seems a little too content to view Bonhoeffer as a martyr.
CT Staff, Christianity Today
Today's church needs Bonhoeffer's example and teaching, and Doblmeier's project makes a worthy contribution to our understanding of this great man.
Martin Scribbs, Mixed Reviews
Bonhoeffer doesn't probe as deeply as one might like into the details and implications of his theology, but is an invaluable study of a man of conscience.
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
To its credit, the film examines Bonhoeffer's life and thought in an expressly theological light… [His ideas] are as integral to the portrait as his resistance work.
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian
Bonhoeffer follows the life of one prominent churchman as he develops an ethics to nourish the anti-Nazi resistence.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
A solid and respectable piece about a man of enormous integrity and courage.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
With this much intrigue and planning, passion and conviction, political and religious controversy, this story should have been riveting, but it's not.
Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly
Though we get little sense of Bonhoeffer the man, the film remains a fascinating account of the evolution of his revisionist thought, which led to a theological justification of collective and, if necessary, violent resistance to tyranny.
Marc Mohan, Oregonian
Director Martin Doblmeier has assembled an impressive array of archival material and recent interviews.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
When its subject is as fascinating as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a movie doesn't need bells and whistles.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

No Featured Audience Ratings Found…

Cast

Martin Doblmeier
as Narrator
Klaus Maria Brandauer
as Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Adele Schmidt
as voice of Sabine

See full cast

Trailers & Clips

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

Discover movies your friends are watching
Keep track of what you want to see
Add your reviews to your Timeline

Get Started