German theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was martyred by the Nazis only weeks before the liberation of Europe. A staunch opponent of anti-Semitism and the Nazification of German churches, Bonhoeffer championed the primacy of individual conscience over the dictates of the state. In doing so, he became a shining example of the righteous gentile and served as an inspiration for later civil rights and anti-war protest groups. Narrated by Ed Asner, the program traces Bonhoeffer's early life as a product of a distinguished German family, his growing commitment to Christ centered pacifism, and time spent at New York's Union Theological Seminary, which opened his eyes to the evils of poverty and racism. The video deftly counterpoints Bonhoeffer's spiritual awakening against Hitler's rise to power in the turmoil of postwar Berlin. Reluctantly, Bonhoeffer finds himself drawn into opposition to Hitler and the German Christian churches, which capitulated all too easily to the dictator's rabid nationalism. Inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, Bonhoeffer sought to establish a "confessing church" as an alternative to Hitler's patriotic Christianity. At great danger to himself, Bonhoeffer shunned many chances to live in exile, finally supporting efforts to smuggle Jews out of Germany. A divided, deeply human figure who struggled with ethical dilemmas, Bonhoeffer's story is a moving, thought-provoking portrait which deserves a wide audience. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
Hanged on a Twisted Cross: The Life, Convictions, and Martyrdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(1996) 120 min. $24.95. Vision Video. PPR. Color cover. ISBN: 1-56364-186-0. Vol. 12, Issue 1
Hanged on a Twisted Cross: The Life, Convictions, and Martyrdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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