Luther DVD Review:

Opening with Luther (Joseph Fiennes) stumbling through a violent thunder storm and vowing to commit his life to God if he survives it we next see him as an Augustinian monk. He has given up his study of law and soon shows his teacher his intelligence and piety - so much so that he is sent as part of a delegation to Rome. Here he is shocked by the decadence and corruption he sees especially the practice of selling “indulgences” - Vatican approved passports to salvation and a major source of funds for the Church.

Now doubting his faith in God he is sent to the University of Wittenberg to study the New Testament. Becoming a professor of theology at the University Luther uses his teaching to rail against what he has seen and soon finds himself in conflict with the establishment. The pope, Leo X, plans to rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica and needs the revenues from indulgences to finance it - Luther is undermining this and must be stopped.

The ensuing conflict leads to Luther posting his famous 95 Theses on a church door which, as it coincides with the recently invented printing process, are rapidly distributed to the masses who rise to his defence. Almost overnight it seems churches are being attacked, monasteries plundered and 100,000 people are dead.Refusing to recant his “heresy” his popularity within Germany saves him from The Inquisition and leads to a rift with Rome. The Reformation is set in motion and the rest, as they say, is history.

Overall this is beautifully photographed (by Robert Frazier) using historical locations in Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic. Joseph Fiennes plays Luther with conviction and is eminently watchable. A strong supporting cast includes Peter Ustinov (in his final performance) as Prince Frederick the Wise, Alfred Molina (Johann Tetzel), Claire Cox (Katerina von Borg) and Jonathan Firth (Girolamo Aleandro).

“Luther” is at its best when dealing with the religious and moral dilemmas faced by its central character and his opponents. The lives of the “humble folk” seem often stereotypical and are sometimes rather too twee – especially the peasant woman who, with her crippled daughter seemingly attached to her back like a Siamese twin, regularly appears at Luther’s side looking adoringly at him.
There is also a certain lack of continuity where, as Luther does not appear to age throughout the film, events which must have taken years seem to take place overnight. This is especially true of the sequence where a group of dishevelled nuns escaping from their ransacked nunnery seek out our hero and are next seen in fine contemporary dress with all but one pledged to be married. Other events seem equally compressed.

This highlights the other major problem with the film. Sequences which convey historical detail with assured accuracy are linked with scenes better placed in a glossy soap opera. There is also little questioning of the validity of Luther’s stance. He is right and damn the consequences. This could explain why the film has been well accepted in countries with Protestant majorities.
In summary a sometimes engaging, sometimes frustrating, film which will be well received by those who side with Luther’s beliefs but to others may be seen as verging on beautifully filmed propaganda.

Keith & Aicha Yaxley