LUTHER
Germany, 2003, 121 minutes, Colour.
Joseph Fiennes, Jonathan Firth, Alfred Molina, Claire Cox, Peter Ustinov, Bruno Ganz, Mathieu Carriere, Maria Simon, Lars Rudolph, Marco Hofschneider.
Directed by Eric Till.
Luther is a film made by dedicated people, especially from German church organizations. It fits into the genre of historical costume drama while its themes are those of reformation in the Church. It is geared towards a more popular audience rather than a more theologically sophisticated audience.
Joseph Fiennes may seem an unexpected choice to play Luther but he does well. He seems to grow into the role so that by the end he is quite convincing.
The film opens with Luther’s anguish and depression, a fearful attitude towards God, especially in his first Mass. However, he is sent to Rome on pilgrimage by his benevolent superior (Bruno Ganz). Overwhelmed at first, he is then scandalized by its worldliness, especially of the Church itself. When is sent for theological studies at Wittenburg, he questions many dogmatic stances (with a great knowledge of official Church teaching) which ultimately leads him to the posting of his ‘theses’ on the cathedral door. The film shows in some detail the Roman reaction, especially from Leo X and Cardinal Cajetan (Matthieu Carriere) and his wily protégé (Julian Firth). Eventually, he is protected by Frederick of Saxony (Peter Ustinov) and the emerging German nationalism clashes with the Church authorities.
The Diet of Worms and the gathering at Augsburg are shown in some detail as are the aftermath of the princes’ putting down of the peasants, Luther’s being dispensed from his vows, his further studies, marriage to Catherine Von Bora.
There was a film version of Luther’s life in the early 1950s with Niall Mc Guinness. In pre-ecumenical days when Luther was seen as a religious enemy by Catholics, the film was advised against. Twenty years later, there was a film version of John Osborne’s play with Stacey Keach in the role. As Osborne looked on Church issues from the outside, his play explored issues of authority and power and religious hypocrisy. In Looking at Luther at the beginning of the 21stt century and with the success of decades of dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics, much of Luther’s critique of Tetzel and the selling of indulgences, of the politics and corruption amongst Church officials, seems justified. Had the Council of Trent (1545-1563) been called by the Pope during Luther’s lifetime, the history of the Reformation and dialogue with reformers could have been so different.
1.The audience for this film? The Lutheran audience? Other Christians? Beyond Christianity? Its confessional attitudes? The different attitudes towards Luther – saint or villain? A portrait, his times, his historical character, the status of religion, religious freedom?
2.The picture of the church, the focus on the person of Jesus, theology? The word of God? Temporal power? Ecclesiastical power? Superstitions and abuse, reform? Presuppositions about the 15th and 16th centuries?
3.The political consequences of Luther’s actions, the role of the papal states, Charles V, Saxony? The princes and their support? The levelling of the peasants? Fifty thousand, the secession from Rome? The re-creation of Germany in the 16th century, Erfurt, 1507? The re-creation of Rome in 1510? Wittenberg? Augsburg? The monastery, the courts, castles, the monastic cells, homes? The world of the princes, the world of the peasants? The historical background, Charles V and the emperor, the wars, Rome, Aleandro,(*?? Aleander in IMDB) the German princes, Frederick of Saxony, Leo X, Cardinal Cadjetan, Rome and the papacy?
4.The storm, Luther, the experience of the storm, his grim perspective on life, monastic life, the first mass and his scruples? His going to Rome, refusing to go up the holy stairs on his knees? The ‘Here I stand’? At the University of Wittenberg? Papal authority, Saxon authority? The Diet of Worms? In Augsburg and his setting out on his pilgrimage?
5.The Lutheran perspective of Luther as hero, a warts-and-all portrait, relationship with the Roman church, the abuses of the time, the reliance on Scripture and his studies, theological reflection, the importance of the word of God over action? The nature of the 16th century Reformation? The fact that Henry VIII wrote against Luther? The background of the church and the 14th and 15th centuries? The nature of piety, relics, payment for indulgences, the worldliness of Leo X, Tetzel and his preaching, the corruption, the ignorance of the people, piety rather than theology, politics and emerging nationalism?
6.Luther as a person, as a character, the experience of the storm, the expression of his fears, his harsh perceptions of God, the Augustinian tradition? Justice, trembling with the chalice? The influence of his father? His father’s presence at the ordination and mass? Von Staupitz and his friendliness, advice? The issue of Luther’s anger with God? People seeing his torment? His faith, Jesus, wanting to be saved? The effect of the visit to Rome, as a pilgrim, on the streets, seeing the prostitutes, seeing the selling of relics, being pushed, the holy stairs, the Dominican and his arrogance? People and superstition, indulgences? The crush of the crowd? Audiences knowing the effect of the Reformation and its subsequent history as well as the 20th century dialogue and reassessment? Luther and his physical condition, his illness – how would the Reformation have been different if he had been in better health? Grim and depressed? Sense of mystery? Wanting penance? His guilt and his fears?
7.The effect on his life, his studies, his disputes, his reading, Andrea? The issue of outside the church there is no salvation? Discussions, theology by quotation, his doctorate? His lectures and denunciations? His confidence growing? Wittenberg and the pinning of the theses on the door of the church? The effect? His becoming the secretary? His becoming the secretary? His life as an Augustinian, in community, with Von Staupitz? The urging of him to go to Rome, the encounter with Cardinal Cajetan, the Fifth Lateran Council, indulgences, papal statements, justification?
8.The Rome of Leo X, pomp, politics, the buying of bishoprics? The role of Cardinal Cajetan? The role of Aleandro, his plans? Cajetan wanting reform? Aleandro wanting power plus orthodoxy? The death of Leo X? Leo X and his condemnation of Luther – and Luther’s abusive attitude towards him? The pilgrimage, sexuality and the Dominicans, the pope, the screwing up of the bill for the relics? The effect of his pilgrimage?
9.Frederick and Peter Ustinov’s performance, age, experience, Luther as his secretary, the information, Frederick liking Luther? Saying nothing but thinking him too radical? The hearings? The request that he revoke the theses? The influence of Aleandro, his nephew? Protection for Luther? The consequences of his stance, opposition to Rome? The later meetings, the bible, the gifts?
10.Luther and Von Staupitz, the dispensation, the request that he abjure his statements? Cardinal Cajetan and the statement Uni Genitus? The influence of Aleandro? Rome and the decision to get Luther, Von Staupitz’s advice? The Diet of Worms? His quoting Scripture, his conscience?
11.The theological issues of the Reformation, Luther’s contribution: on sin, redemption, the word, his sermons and the people listening? The support at the Diet of Worms?
12.Andrea, power, the massacre, Luther and the princes, “Whatever means”?
13.The human element, the abduction, Luther and his work of translation, hiding away, his emerging, his stopping Andrea, Greta? His meeting Katharina von Bora? Together? Her being in the convent? The nuns? The influence of the Reformation? Her leaving, marriage?
14.The Council of Augsburg, the princes, the Confession? Aleandro and Charles V? Philip Melancthon and his theological reflection?
15.The massacre of the peasants, the princes using Luther? His reaction, regrets?
16.The marriage to Katharina von Bora, his teaching, the passing of the sixteen years – dramatically quickly?
17.The portrait of Luther, a man of his period, his response to the period and his critique? The consequences for the Reformation in Europe?
