Product: Luther [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Germany ]
Rating: 4.0
Well done!
There are many reasons to like this film. The cast, the cinematography, the costumes, and the soundtrack all come to mind. But I'll divide my review into two parts. The first part is directed at modern day followers of the teachings of Martin Luther, usually referred to as Lutherans. For them, this movie is "must-see." It digs into the psychological and spiritual struggles that led Martin Luther to take the stand that he did against certain teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It also shows, in broad strokes, some of the results of that stand, both positive and negative, both personal and public. The script does play somewhat loosely with the actual historical record (such as introducing a few fictional characters), and perpetuates some myths about Martin Luther (i.e. his nailing of the 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg), but overall shows all the important events in the right order. If nothing else, if this movie encourages Lutherans to dig deeper into their religious heritage, it has served one of its main purposes.The second part of this review is directed towards those who are not Lutherans, or even Christians. For them there are many reasons to enjoy this movie as well. As mentioned earlier, the cast and their performances are well-done, the costumes are beautiful, the cinematography is excellent, and the sets and locations are gorgeous. Thus, this movie is a visual feast. The soundtrack is also excellent, setting a proper late medieval tone. And while the title character of the movie is a central figure to a particular religious group, his personal struggles with meaning, purpose, conflicting loyalties, authority, hypocrisy, and responsibility are universal, and so there is indeed something for everyone in this movie.