Bonhoeffer

Released Jun 20, 2003

1h 31m

Documentary

List

71%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Filmmaker Martin Doblmeier profiles Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young Christian theologian who was hanged in a Nazi concentration camp.

Keith Phipps

AV Club

The documentary still works as an introduction to a thinker whose influence, as the passionate praise of Desmond Tutu attests, lasted far beyond his martyrdom.

Dec 6, 2004

Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

To its credit, the film examines Bonhoeffer's life and thought in an expressly theological light… [His ideas] are as integral to the portrait as his resistance work.

Rated: B+

Aug 22, 2004

Full Review

Jane Sumner

Dallas Morning News

There is more to the philosophy and faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer than a 90-minute documentary can begin to cover, but this is a powerful and timely introduction.

Rated: B+

Nov 28, 2003

Full Review

Jeffrey Overstreet

Christianity Today

Today's church needs Bonhoeffer's example and teaching, and Doblmeier's project makes a worthy contribution to our understanding of this great man.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 1, 2006

Full Review

Paul Sherman

Boston Herald

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 16, 2005

Full Review

Martin Scribbs

Mixed Reviews

Bonhoeffer doesn't probe as deeply as one might like into the details and implications of his theology, but is an invaluable study of a man of conscience.

Oct 6, 2004

Full Review

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Audience Member

Disappointing. There was no real attempt to explain Bonhoeffer's theology and there was little drama to the martyrdom. It seemed more like a documentary on the religious institutions in Germany under the Nazis.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Documentary of an important theologian and his struggle with evil.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Intriguing documentary about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a very learned and spiritual man, who fought and plotted against Hitler during World War II.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life is a moving and powerful story. This documentary which examines his life, his theological ideas and teaching, and the plot he joined to assassinate Hitler. There is a ton of black and white archival footage with this documentary. The footage is good but one wishes the filmmaking skills were there to make this incredible life and story more compelling. It begs for a better re-telling.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I musn't let my admiration for the man sway my opine of the documentary. While historically fascinating, it didn't seem to capture the intensity of the man, nor his mission. Could there be a film in the future that brings the danger of his faith to the forefront?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

My wife has always spoken highly of Bonhoeffer, so I've been interested to learn more about the man. This was an interesting, if a little slow-moving, take on his life. At only an hour and a half (thank you, director), it manages to feel quite thorough, at least in terms of overview.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

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Martin Doblmeier

Director

Eberhead Bethge

Self

Klaus Maria Brandauer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

John de Gruchy

Self

Martin Doblmeier

Narrator

Geffrey Kelly

Self

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Martin Doblmeier profiles Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young Christian theologian who was hanged in a Nazi concentration camp.

Director: Martin Doblmeier
Producer: Martin Doblmeier
Distributor: First Run
Production Co: First Run Features, Journey Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $296.2K
Runtime: 1h 31m

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