A
Movie Review on “Luther”
The movie is all about the precursor
of Reformation in the Church. Protestant reformation, as we may call it in
general, showed how she arduously and chaotically fought for her existence and
rise. The movie began by showing how Martin Luther started his vocation as a
monk and ended it when was starting his new Christian community outside the
Roman Catholic Church. He and his
friends separated from the Church because of the intolerable and rampant corruption
and unjust teachings of the Church hierarchy on faith, especially on the belief
on indulgences. Moreover, priests and bishops were doing immoral practices,
like prostitution, which is in contrast to the teachings of Christ.
The movie, “Luther”, in general, is
a wonderful and well-financed production. Its cinematography drew me to imagine
that I was in their world, the historical ambiance of the 15th
century Europe . With a little background of
Church History, general events like that of in Worms ,
Augsburg
After watching the movie my
sentiments and sympathy has been drawn towards Luther particularly his fight
for his faith and theology. However, it’s hard to accept that the Catholic
Church is depicted all through out the movie as the cruelest antagonist. If
only a slight good character of the church might have been shown there might have
been a balanced judgment. It is indeed hard to judge and know the reality of
their time but one thing is certain the Church needed to renew herself.
I think if only Luther used his
theology by renewing the Church from within and if only the Church listened to
him, incorrect teachings might have been changed and abuses have been stopped. There
might have been no division among Christians. However, we may categorically
guess like this but there was no difference at all. The revolt of Luther against
the Church was not actually about doctrinal discrepancies but regarding the unacceptable
political and moral life of Church hierarchy. Doctrines are inappropriately
taught to ordinary people, especially those who have no accessed to education. They
are easily fooled and deceived by the people in the Church. Maybe that’s why
Luther translated the bible into German so that they could understand their
faith not merely depending on the Church hierarchy.
I felt sad and at the same time happy
upon reflecting and analyzing the movie. I’m sad and disappointed because
another division in the Church was created. The birth of Protestantism created
another rift between the Catholic Church and other Churches which then is a
precursor to a more divided Church that until now more divisions are rising and
the distance of rifts are widening and expanding. I also felt happy because the
reformation had awakened the mind of the Church to renew herself and it
actually did when the Council of Trent was convoked. The renewal continued
until the time of the Vatican II.
With regards to the learning that we
might get from Martin Luther, all I can say is that, to ‘change minds and open
eyes’ a certain consciousness and concept can indeed create division and the
experience would be like someone passing through a tiny hole of a thin needle but
at the end of it something good happens. His life is similar to the life of Jesus.
His warning that he will be the cause of division among families and nations
was fulfilled when people started to follow him.
I finally say, it
takes a sacrifice of one’s life to change the world. Jesus and Luther wanted
change but at the risk of their life. Jesus died on the cross, while Luther
gave up his vocation and Catholicism. Luther found it hard to let go but he has
to. He gave up his life in the Catholic Church but he did not give up his faith
to God.
