Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace

In Mexico this movie was aired only in PayTV. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life, is a true example about a good German and specially, about a good man. The conversations between Tukur's character and the Nazi prosecutor are specially interesting. A true ideas' war: two different Germans, both with faith in there believes. Bonhoeffer was a very complex person: man, freedom fighter, boyfriend, churchman and a great intellectual; Ulrich Tukur is outstanding as Bonhoeffer. I recommended this film a lot, specially in this difficult times for the planet. In Mexico we don't know a lot about Pastor Bonhoeffer life and legacy, this is a great work for rescue a forgotten hero.

Imagine you were someone who knew nothing of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and you thought that this movie might shed a little light on the life of a man who is renowned in Christian intellectual circles. You would be sorely disappointed by this offering. The movie gives no account of Boenhoeffer's early life, he springs fully adult like Adam in the Garden. The movie also gives no real account of later life. It portrays a series of vignettes in which he is peripherally involved in events in Germany, a passive observer of tumultuous occurrences that might seem to be of importance if only we had some explanation of what they were, who was involved, and how they came to be. None of that. Bonhoeffer drifts along in the stream of occurrences until he is swept away to a Gestapo prison where he makes a poor attempt at fooling the bad guys and is eventually killed. Apparently, Bonhoeffer was an admirer of Gandhi. Well, there you go.

I gave it three stars because Robert Joy does a good job of portraying the Gestapo menace. His is the only character that has an obvious motive which is carried out as one would expect. Everyone else is a two-dimensional NPC, reacting as programmed for reasons that are not given and not apparent.

This film was made by a small production company and most of the actors are unfamiliar. However, in spite of this, the film is a well-made drama about an amazing man of faith, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a German Lutheran minister who managed to make a nuisance of himself--and as a result he spent the last part of WWII in prison awaiting execution.

Overall, this is a very good film and was a treat as a historical and religious film--though its Biblical message is not even close to heavy-handed or preachy (so anyone can enjoy it and its message). The acting, sets and direction were also quite good. My only reservation concerns the tempo of the film--it is very, very slow-paced and low-key. Some might be put off by this, but if you can get through this you'll likely enjoy learning about this interesting man. Not great, but very good--especially with such a small budget.

By the way, I did a tiny bit of research about this man and was surprised to see that the actor playing him actually looked very, very much like Bonhoeffer.

In an age where genuine concern for others seems to be conspicuous by its absence this spare yet profoundly moving film gives us a glimpse of a great spirit. Christian or not, it's essential viewing. Theologian Bonhoeffer was a man for all seasons, following the voice of his conscience to the end. The recent release of this film makes one wonder why it took so long to have Bonhoeffers story retold on the screen. He could have escaped from the Nazis but chose to stay with his people, helping wherever he could. Right through the film we find ourselves asking what we would do in the same situation? This story is rich food for thought and discussion.

No doubts, an admirable film. For performance and for for the wise use of low budget to propose not only a biopic about Dietrich Bonhoeffer but a fair remind of fundamental values defining our society, the danger , in its different forms, the moral dilemma of a brilliant teologian and the sacrifice for save the other and the sense of a time. Sure, many critics are valable but the film is just decent and seductive for the inspired exploration of a difficult subject, easy to be prey of pathetic temptations. It is a sketch and a profound religious film because the essence of the work of Bonhoeffer is to serve God being profound helpful to His believers . A film about moral, maybe too simple for many tastes but real honest. Short, just an admirable portrait of a man and, in some serious measure, portrait of our times.