Trained in the theological tradition of the German Lutheran church, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Jonas Dassler) finds his years of study in New York eye-opening. He falls in love with the Black church – its focus on Christ, its emotional warmth, its crusade for justice for the oppressed. When he and a Black friend (David Jonsson) experience an act of violent racism, Bonhoeffer consoles himself with the thought that such a thing wouldn’t happen in his home country. The next few years are going to offer a hideous refutation of that naïve belief.
Three years later, Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany and soon begins persecuting Jews, the disabled, and anyone else he believes pollutes “pure Aryan blood”. Bonhoeffer’s detestation of the Fuhrer’s policies is matched only by his horror at the capitulation of the German church. Instead of speaking out against Hitler’s brutality, the church acquiesces, accepting the new “Aryan Bible”, ignoring the atrocities of the camps, and sometimes even amplifying Nazi dogma from the pulpit.
Determined to save his country and church, Bonhoeffer throws himself into the fight. He travels to America and England, trying to raise awareness and funds. He works to get Jews out of Germany. And he participates in an underground seminary to train anti-Nazi clerics. But as Hitler’s atrocities mount, the pacifist preacher finds himself contemplating the unthinkable – joining a plot to assassinate the Fuhrer.
Bonhoeffer:Pastor. Spy. Assassin. is a fascinating film. Disturbingly topical, it’s a movie that is suitable for all audiences, Christian or not, but that will have particular resonance for Christian moviegoers. And it’s bound to be controversial. The script is a damning indictment of Christian nationalism, of the intertwining of religion and politics, of accepting a politician as a savior. While this is sure to outrage a portion of the religious right, the film’s rationalization for political violence, specifically assassination, is equally likely to appall the religious left. It’s what you could call an even-handed script: something to love and to hate for everyone.
As for an objective assessment of the movie, I have two complaints. On a petty note, I can’t overlook the hair dye used for Jonas Dassler. Bleaching dark hair is always a challenge and the results here are so bad they are distracting. Maybe a wig would have worked better? I can’t understand how a movie with such good production values fails so badly with the hair of its main character. It’s a constant, needless irritant.
Minor annoyances aside, my biggest issue is that Bonhoeffer’s switch from pacifist to would-be assassin is not convincingly depicted. He gets angry; he changes his mind. No spiritual anguish, no theological struggles, no renunciation of past opinions: just a simple change of mind. It doesn’t work terribly well, which is a significant flaw at the heart of the film. (And there is no mention of the historical debate about the extent of his involvement – which range from being acquainted with the plotters to being peripherally involved or being at the heart of the conspiracy.)
Despite these problems, I consider Bonhoeffer a compelling film, and one worth watching for teens and adults. Aside from non-gratuitous scenes of war-related violence that are essential for the plot, the film has only minor negative content, which is easily balanced by an entire feature’s worth of positive themes and uplifting messages. This is a film about courage, faith, love, integrity, dedication, and sacrifice. It reminds us that “Our silence in the face of evil is itself evil” and it asks us what we are willing to do when faced with evil in our world. Bonhoeffer’s words speak to us today: “What good is the church if it doesn’t speak for the victims of the state? For those who have no words?” If this film helps us find our voices, it’s worth way more than the price of the ticket.
Directed by Todd Komarnicki.Starring Jonas Dassler, Phileas Heyblom, August Diehl.Running time: 132 minutes.Theatrical release November 22, 2024. Updated November 20, 2024
About author
Kirsten Hawkes
Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.
Watch the trailer for Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.
Rating & Content Info
Why is Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. rated PG-13? Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for violent content, thematic elements and some smoking.
Violence: A man’s dead body is briefly seen in a casket before his funeral. A man spits at a man in an act of violence. There are scenes of men being hit with gun butts. His target is seen with a black eye and facial abrasions. There are explosions caused by bombs. A man is shot dead on screen with no visible injuries. People are repeatedly beaten by soldiers or the SS: sometimes they are seen with wounds. An angry man throws furniture in a fit of rage. A pastor is taken away from his family by government agents. There is brief footage from concentration camps, showing starving and dead Jews. There’s mention of mass murder of Jews. Spoiler: A man straps on a suicide vest but does not detonate it. A noose is tightened around a man’s neck but his death is only heard; not seen.
Sexual Content: None.
Profanity: The script contains a minor profanity, a crude expression, and a racial slur.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Main characters are seen smoking, which is historically accurate for the period. Adults drink alcohol in social situations.
Page last updated November 20, 2024
Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. Parents' Guide
How does Bonhoeffer describe the Black church in America? What appeals to him? How do his experiences in Harlem influence his subsequent ministry in Germany?
Why does the German church capitulate to the Nazi government? Why does Bonhoeffer object to it? Of what offenses does he accuse his fellow clerics? What are the consequences of speaking out against the government? Do you think a unified opposition from all pastors would have made a difference in German history?
How does the script justify Bonhoeffer’s decision to abandon pacifism and become involved in a plot to kill Hitler? Do you think it’s believable? What would you do in his shoes? Can you fight evil with evil?
Loved this movie? Try these books…
You can read Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s own words for free at the Tyndale Reading Room and Open Library.
For more information about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, you can read the following:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Spoke in the Wheel by Renate Wind is a short but comprehensive examination of the man’s life. In Strange Blory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Charles Marsh examines both Bonhoeffer’s life and theology. Reggie L. Williams examines the impact of Bonhoeffer’s American experiences in Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. Mark Thiessen Nation, Anthony G. Siegrist and Daniel P. Umbel have co-authored Bonhoeffer the Assassin? Challenging the Myth, Recovering His Call to Peacemaking which meticulously reviews source documentation and Bonhoeffer’s own writings to challenge the existing narrative about Bonhoeffer’s association with an assassination plot.
Home Video
Related home video titles:
For more about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, you can watch the documentary Bonhoeffer here.
A Hidden Life tells the story of another devoutly religious man whose faith costs him his life. Franz Jägerstätter believes that his Catholic faith prevents him from swearing an oath of allegiance to Hitler, which lands him in prison.
A faithful Seventh Day Adventist, Desmond T. Doss is a committed pacifist. A conscientious objector and unwilling to carry a gun, Doss serves as a medic. His military service, especially in the Battle of Okinawa, is retold in Hacksaw Ridge.
American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow undergoes a crisis of faith when he experiences personal bereavement and the challenges of the Civil War. I Heard the Bells shows how he rediscovers his faith and writes the timeless Christmas carol.
