Bonhoeffer

Rating:
Summary: Life as Sacrifice.
Review: "Sometimes God grabs you by the scruff of the neck" which is how Bishop Tutu described Bonhoeffer's behaviors in this documentary. He gave his life so a people would have a moral basis for which to carve a future. I was reminded of the memoir/plaque that was created in honor of the July 20th conspirators: "Died for Germany." It was certainly true in his case. This documentary is well made but does not tell one much about the conspiracy against Hitler, so it may be confusing for those without a firm background in the period. I was fairly touched by the way in which Bonhoeffer had opportunity after opportunity to be escape but consistently remained where he was needed; The Third Reich, a hell on earth. Bonhoeffer is definitely worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: Bonhoeffer - ***1/2 Stars
Review: A radio address being made by German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the first few days of Adolph Hitler's reign as the Deutschland chancellor was taken off the air before he could complete his already critical remarks. Three weeks before the end of World War II in Europe and Hitler's suicide, Bonhoeffer's life was cut short at the end of a gallows rope at the Flossenburg concentration camp. In between, Bonhoeffer became one of his country's best-known religious thinkers and most outspoken pacifists--who yet became a conspirator in plans to kill the Fuhrer.

Documentarian Martin Doblmeier, who first came upon the Protestant's writings while attending a Catholic high school, provides both a viewpoint on and images of the period unlike those of other films on the Third Reich era, and his biographical coverage of Bonhoeffer's early adult life and of his actions during the 1930s is incisive. Given Doblmeier's stated interest in making the film--to investigate Bonhoeffer's inner moral struggles more than real-world results--it's not surprising that his account of the pastor's war years, especially those after his arrest in 1944, are sketchier.

Turned down for Sundance, Doblmeier instead screened his film at Park City, Utah's local churches, a strategy that garnered considerable attendance and press coverage; the film has since been playing at churches throughout the U.S., in advance of its theatrical release by First Run.

Rating:
Summary: inspiring in times of "patriotic" faith
Review: I watched this film with my 13 year old son, at a time when our President claims that his "faith" justifies the arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of people based on their "foreign" faith, in this case Islam, and a war against a nation (and a region?) that shares that faith (and a lot of oil). We were both inspired by the deep and authentic Christian faith that led this man born into wealth and privilege to risk it all in a similar time of national insanity for the sake of following the will of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

Rating:
Summary: Timely discussion of pacifism and Christian action
Review: Incorporating events and writings from Bonhoeffer's life, from childhood through his death at the hands of the Nazis, this film shows Bonhoeffer's insights concerning pacifism, Christian social responsibility to all of humankind, most especially the oppressed (including blacks in America and Jews under Nazi rule). The enormous personal conflicts and pressures on Christians in Nazi Germany are illustrated with episodes from his life and his own writings, culminating in his role in the plot to assassinate Hitler. Most timely in today's war on terrorism. Highly recommended for religious libraries.

Rating:
Summary: Beyond 5 Stars--Gripping Good Stuff
Review: My short notes on this incredible film:

* Possible for 1 man to detect evil early on, and to resist evil

* Bonhoeffer excelled at pointing out that for any man or nation to presume that God takes sides or endorses any particular position is very pretentious

* God is *community* -- God is present to the extent that community of man thrives

* If the working poor turn away from the church, it is failing; if the petty bourgeoisie flock to the church it is failing and pretentious

* In times of economic crisis, fascism can be attractive to BOTH the industrial leaders AND the forlorn working poor

* New York fellowship focused him on social ethics, energized him with exposure to writing by black authors, pious singing within black churches

* Purpose of ethics and theology is to change the world for the better

* Adam Clayton Powell Senior made the black church in New York into a political and social force

* Black Christ has rapturous passion, contrasts sharply with white didactic Christ

* Friendships with pacifists taught him that "nothing in scripture permits man to destroy the body of Christ" (the community)

* For every person that is unemployed, 2-5 go hungry

* Hitler called on God, claimed God, Quoted God. For Hitler, God was a "completely ideological God" according to Bishop Wolfgang Huber, one of those interviewed

* Church in Germany was guilty of preparing the way for Hitler, setting the stage for an authoritarian or "acceptance" state

* At 27, Bonhoeffer addressed nation via radio, suggested that the leader as "idol" was sacrilegious. His broadcast was cut off.

* Bonhoeffer brought the Bible alive--taught his student to read the Bible as if God were *here and now* speaking to *you* personally.

* Hitler called on God, but he was actually in competition with God for the role of SAVIOR of the German people.

* Hitler legalized church prejudices against Jews going back to Martin Luther

* Must distinguish between anti-Judaism (conflict of faiths) and anti-Semitism (racism)

* According to Bonhoeffer, Church has three options in times of crisis and state abuse:

1) Ask the State if its actions are legitimate

2) Support the victims (Bonhoeffer is specific in saying Church must support all victims, even if not part of the Church)

3) Oppose the State

His work focused on the ease with which false loyalty (e.g. to a President rather than a Constitution), false Church is a easy path for most.

Catholic Church signed a Concordat with Hitler, agreeing not to resist.

Others did resist--Pastors Emergency League, claimed 7,000 members out of a possible 27,000

Bonhoeffer was so exceptional that he was invited by Gandhi to visit him

"Peace is the opposite of security" (one is actual, the other is enforced)

* Study, service, prayer.

* Oppressed people of color have piety and also have something to teach to all Christians.

* What cost oppression? The cost is the loss of God.

* War, and the persecution of Jews, are injustice incarnate. "One is not true to God when one has a lax conception of war or of justice," This according to Bishop Albrecht Schonherr

* Bonhoeffer was a double agent, engaged in plot to kill Hitler

* Ethics is situational--will of God has infinite variations. Ethics is less about principles and more about flexibility. Ethics is an act of faith--every minute, every day.

* Hitler dominated Germany for over a decade.

* Bonhoeffer was marched naked to the gallows and hung. His last words, "For me this is the beginning of life."

* His message: live completely in this world--thus do we throw ourselves into the hands of God--take ALL suffering seriously.

This was a moving DVD. It offers superb organization, superb visuals, and superb choral music in the background. This DVD was so thoughtful I found myself replaying sections 3X to 5X.

This was so good it has focused me on my next book--instead of national security (forced peace)--I am going for INFORMATION PEACEKEEPING: Ethics, Theology, and Collective Intelligence (inherent peace).

If you've gotten this far, you need to see this DVD. Available at Blockbuster and also well worth buying as a recurring reflection piece (along with Gandhi and The Last Samurai and March or Die).

Rating:
Summary: I would drive 700 miles
Review: This documentary is quite simply a must see. My buddy and I contemplated driving from Sacramento to Seattle to see it before we heard about it on DVD. Simply put, it would have been worth the trip. The film is mostly primary sources, those close to Dietrich, several of whom passed away shortly after its filming. Bonhoeffer is one of the most compelling theologians of the twentieth century and this is the best window into his life available. Costly grace, ethical constructs of good vs good and the world come of age are all paradigm shifting ideas - but the locus of their authority rests in the details of his life and risks taken in the name of bold action in service of God. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Compeling story of a theologian and anti-Hitler acrivist
Review: 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 Germany, 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 contradicting 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