"Luther" is an exciting, well made film about Martin Luther and his struggle to make a break from the all-powerful Roman Catholic church.
It is the early 1500's and the church dominates in almost every aspect of daily life. Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes) begins the movie as a priest who does his best to obey the teachings of the church, but increasingly has trouble reconciling those teachings with the actions he sees the church taking in the world. He sees a church obsessed with collecting money, crushing intellectual inquiry and unresponsive to the needs -- spiritual or physical -- of the people.
Sent to the University at Wittenburg to study theology, Luther begins to preach a less dogmatic form of religious doctrine, questioning several tenets of the faith as dictated by Rome.
Acting and technical aspects are all excellent. Film does a superb job of avoiding a pious, preachy tone by focusing on Luther's conflict with the church and the very real danger he was in.
Luther's battle for the right to merely speak his mind broadens the movie beyond its religious context to secular audiences. His fight for self-expression is something that everyone -- atheist, agnostic or believer -- can identify with.
Film also is honest in dealing with the costs of fighting the status quo. The break with Rome leads to a political struggle that left thousands of peasants dead.
Bottom line: if you are a secular-minded individual, don't let the religious content keep you away. The film first and foremost is a profile in courage story about the importance and consequences of standing up for what you believe in -- a message that is always relevant, yes, even today. Perhaps especially today.
It is the early 1500's and the church dominates in almost every aspect of daily life. Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes) begins the movie as a priest who does his best to obey the teachings of the church, but increasingly has trouble reconciling those teachings with the actions he sees the church taking in the world. He sees a church obsessed with collecting money, crushing intellectual inquiry and unresponsive to the needs -- spiritual or physical -- of the people.
Sent to the University at Wittenburg to study theology, Luther begins to preach a less dogmatic form of religious doctrine, questioning several tenets of the faith as dictated by Rome.
Acting and technical aspects are all excellent. Film does a superb job of avoiding a pious, preachy tone by focusing on Luther's conflict with the church and the very real danger he was in.
Luther's battle for the right to merely speak his mind broadens the movie beyond its religious context to secular audiences. His fight for self-expression is something that everyone -- atheist, agnostic or believer -- can identify with.
Film also is honest in dealing with the costs of fighting the status quo. The break with Rome leads to a political struggle that left thousands of peasants dead.
Bottom line: if you are a secular-minded individual, don't let the religious content keep you away. The film first and foremost is a profile in courage story about the importance and consequences of standing up for what you believe in -- a message that is always relevant, yes, even today. Perhaps especially today.