Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace [2000 film]

This video re-tells the career of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Its highlights were the excitement and fear around the plot(s) to assassinate Hitler, and Bonhoeffer's ambivalent role in them. It also shows clearly, unlike other biographies of the German pastor, his part in building up the seminary for the Confessing Church.

The sound quality (at least on our copy) was quite poor, and made it difficult to follow in places.

Good viewing to introduce Christians to Bonhoeffer's life and the central ethical dilemma he faced.

"What is a moral person to do in a time of savage immorality?
That question tormented Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German clergyman of great distinction who actively opposed Hitler and the Nazis.
His convictions cost him his life.
The Nazis hanged him on April 9, 1945, less than a month before the end of the war."

(from overview)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor who realized that Hitler was not good for Germany and spoke out. His church and seminary were closed and had to meet secretly and he tried to tell clergy and officials in other countries what was happening in Germany so that they could help to defeat Hitler and the Nazis. Finally, he was one of over 100 involved with the Valkyrie Plot to assassinate Hitler and was hung April 9, 1945, a month before the end of the war.

Tells the story of a Lutheran minister who stood up to the tyranny of Nazi Germany and paid with his life.

"What is a moral person to do in a time of savage immorality? That question tormented Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German clergyman of great distinction who actively opposed Hitler and the Nazis. His convictions cost him his life. Bonhoeffer's last years, his participation in the German resistance and his moral struggle are dramatized in this film."

From back of DVD cover: "What is a moral person to do in a time of savage immorality? That question tormented Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German clergyman of great distinction who actively opposed Hitler and the Nazis. His convictions cost him his life. The Nazis hanged him on April 9, 1945, less than a month before the end of the war. Bonhoeffer's last years, his participation in the German resistance and his moral struggle are dramatized in this film. More than just a biographical portrait, Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace sheds light on the little-known efforts of the German resistance. It brings to a wide audience the heroic rebellion of Bonhoeffer, a highly regarded Lutheran minister who could have kept his peace and saved his life on several show more occasions but instead paid the ultimate price for his beliefs." show less