Karl Barth is said to have made the following comparison about Luther:
“When Luther nailed his theses to the door, he was like a blind man climbing up the stairs of a bell tower; suddenly he lost his footing and began to fall. He tried to grab hold of something to save his life. And it turned out that what he grabbed and pulled was the rope of the church bell.”This September, the American public television service “Public Broadcasting Service” broadcast the latest film about Martin Luther, dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The film is titled “Martin Luther: The Idea That Changed the World”.
The film portrays the life story of Martin Luther: the mighty lightning strike that nearly killed Luther, his self-flagellation while living in the monastery, the corruption he saw in the church that roused Luther’s anger, his trial, his defence against the most powerful man in Europe… and finally Luther’s abduction, which saved him from the death penalty.
This documentary is highly visual. It includes very dramatised scenes that were filmed in castles, monasteries and even on the cobbled streets of Eastern Europe. During the making of the film, several European and American historians were interviewed to ensure that each side’s view of these historical events is presented.
At present it is not known when this film will be available to watch on European television. For now, the film on DVD can be purchased on the PBS website by residents of the USA and Canada. The film on DVD is also available at the www.amazon.com online store.
By clicking on the video image, you can view the film’s trailer and a few interview excerpts with historians, among whom are pastors, as well as Catholic priests and a cardinal. The video is in English.
Source of the description and images: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) www.pbs.org