A film like this one is to be appreciated. Cinema should also effectively contribute to the culture of people. Many know that Luther existed but nothing more than that. This material gives an extract of the life of Martin Luther, role played well by Joseph Fiennes. In a state of discontent anywhere a rebel will reign easily, and it was clear that many priests in Germany were not glad at all with the dictatorship of Roman Church.Historically many things were just imposed by the Roman Church like the bible in Latin when a few people understood this dead language, the celibate of the priests, their privileges among the poor populations and many others. Luther understood well this situation and became a rebel and hero for church re vindication. Many Germans and Nordic nations embraced the ideas of Luther, and this led to the establishment of a new church (the Lutheran) with temples without icons and with new approach for serving God and the suffering people.The film was able in a short period of time to give a vision of all these problems. May be split in two parts of 120 minutes each would have been a good idea for making such a film.Peter Ustinov played well the role of Frederick The Wise. Certainly one enjoys looking at his performance in this material. The rest of the cast did also a very good performance.

It's the early 16th century, and the Christian faith has become awash in stifling legalism and meaningless traditions. There's corruption and greed and superstition and many priests live an openly unrighteous life. There's a fanatical devotion to the church and its rituals, but not really to Christ. Into the midst of the situation steps - somewhat unwillingly - Martin Luther. This movie is his story.Joseph Fiennes offers a stunning performance in the lead role, portraying a Luther tormented by Satan, increasingly questioning the church he serves as a priest and coming into ever increasing conflict with its hierarchy, especially after a visit to Rome exposes him directly to some of the more sordid aspects of the increasingly worldly church. Finally, an open schism occurs and a new movement - which would one day be known as Protestantism - is born, which preaches salvation not through the church, but through simple faith in Christ. One gets the impression from this movie that Luther isn't really happy with the breach in Christendom; that his real goal was to reform the church but not to split it apart. Luther's passion for the Scriptures is brought out, as is his passion for making the Scriptures accessible to God's people by translating it from Latin (and from the original Greek) into German. Clearly, though, the portrayal is of a man not entirely comfortable with the position he acquires and who has to fight desperately to prevent the movement his teachings started from causing society to descend into chaos.There were some solid performances as well from Peter Ustinov as Luther's protector, Prince Frederick, and from Torben Liebrecht as the young Emperor Charles, whose position is threatened by the schism. Jonathon Firth was also convincing as Girolamo Aleander, the Pope's representative on the scene, whose goal is to crush Luther and his movement before it spreads.Much like Luther's life, the movie - which is always good - picks up speed as it moves along and is always interesting viewing. Interestingly, one of the most dramatic and moving scenes in the movie doesn't even involve Luther, when the German princes stand up to Emperor Charles and refuse his command to silence Luther and his doctrines.One criticism that should be noted is that the movie fails to acknowledge the darker side of Luther's beliefs - his quite open anti-semitism, for example. Still, this is an excellent movie for anyone interested in Luther or the beginnings of the Reformation. 8/10

Exactly fifty years earlier Martin Luther got himself an autobiographical film that starred Niall McGinniss and got great critical acclaim. With better production values, color, and an impeccably cast group of players this story of the founder of one of the sects of Protestantism is destined to be a classic. In the review I did of the earlier film I noted that Martin Luther was one of many founders of Protestantism. His Lutheran church became the majority faith of northern Germany, the low countries and of Scandinavia. Other folks like John Calvin in Switzerland, John Knox in Scotland, and even Henry VIII in England all can claim some credit for the Protestant Reformation. I think Luther's legacy in the political sphere may be a bit more unassailable. That other German, Johannes Von Guttenberg, may have invented the printing press and used to print a Bible, but Luther had the Bible translated in his native tongue of German. That book was a declaration of political as well as spiritual independence from Rome.As the previous film had to observe the Code, this version of Luther took us into young Martin's spiritual journey and what might have repelled him from the Catholic faith when he first went to Rome to study. The Papacy was at its lowest ebb at that time, it was a prize to be bargained for among the rich Italian families like the Borgias and the Medicis. Salvation was for sale, a contribution to the church could buy your way to a good afterlife. My favorite scene in the film is the young priest Luther in a sermon talking about all the relatives he bought or is planning to buy from the devil in hell. Luther also disdained the idea of a celibate clergy. In that one he certainly was ahead of his times. My own feeling is that part of the reason the Catholic Church today insists on the celibate priesthood is that they don't want to appear to be giving into one of Luther's main tenets.Joseph Fiennes makes a passionate Luther, a man willing to risk all for the sake of his new found faith. Which is an unshakable belief that faith alone insures salvation, that no human intercession by priest or Pope is necessary and that it follows that the Word of God is not something spoon fed to people by a clergy reading it from an ancient language that they alone know.Luther was not the first religious reformer, but what kept him from being burned at the stake like others was the protection of the Duke of Saxony played here by Peter Ustinov. Luther turned out to be Ustinov's final theatrical film. Playing the cultured and politically attuned Duke, Ustinov goes out with one of his best big screen performances.The less attractive aspects of Luther's character are left out of the film, his misogyny, his sexism, his raging anti-Semitism. As he got older, Luther suffered from a variety of health issues that made him a nasty tempered fellow. His later writings certainly reflect that.Our film ends with the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V having to deal with a whole gang of new Protestant states in the German portion of his realm in 1530. This was due to Luther and as I said before, Luther's legacy may be more political than spiritual.Luther is not only good entertainment, it's very good history and that's an unbeatable combination.

The life of the 16th-century German monk Martin Luther (1483-1546) was filled with inner compulsions, focusing on his crucial years of his crusade against the Catholic Church, leading to his break with the Roman Catholic Church… Director Eric Till presents Rome as a shattered city where depravity was everywhere… This infuriated Luther who could not believe that Rome is a circus describing it as 'a running sewer, where you can bye anything, sex, and salvation, and where they also have brothels for clerics.' He also witnesses the church collecting coins from the people supposedly to free their sins to build Saint Peter's Church and would be therefore released from Purgatory and enter the Heaven… Luther was eventually branded a heretic, his books examined and burned, and anyone who presumes to infringe Pope Leo's excommunication will stand under the wrath of Almighty God and the Apostles Peter and Paul… The reaction of the peasants in Germany was against the reaction of the Inquisition who was burning his writings…For the German people "you can't burn his ideas." For the Church, his works shall be erased from the memory of man! Luther's criticism was not against his Holiness, Pope Leo X, but of those rogues who claim to represent him… His goal was not to quarrel with the Pope or the Church but to defend them than mere opinion! The Gospel, as he affirmed, cannot be denied for the word of man! As a loyal son of the Church, Luther finds sanctuary with Prince Frederick, who finds him too daring for him but decides not to surrender him to Rome… Luther goes on to produce his first translation of the New Testament Bible into German language… He marries the ex-nun, Katerina Von Borg, becomes a hero to the people and in spite of his outlaw status with the Church authorities, his followers ultimately break with Rome… Joseph Fiennes played intensely the intriguing story of a brilliant Augustinian monk with an independent mind who is not interested in comfort but in the truth! Sir Peter Ustinov—in his final role—realizes the danger Luther poses to the Catholic Church… Alfred Molina as Brother John Tetzel, is the showman terrorizing the good people of Jüterbog into purchasing special indulgences letting everyone know the fires of hell awaiting those who did not contribute… Johann Von Staupitz is the spiritual counselor who knows that Martin has aptitude for law, and could be send to Rome for a legal brief… Claire Cox is Luther's beautiful wife who stood behind her young 16th century monk driven by courage and outrage against a powerful Medieval Church