"Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin." Review

Audio By Carbonatix

In the final act of the new feature Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin., the title character faces one tragedy after another. Despondent, he notes that he understands why even in the Bible, so many disciples couldn’t bear any more suffering after their faith was tested time and again.

His mother responds by saying,” The disciples scattered on Friday. Yes. But by Sunday, they were on the way to changing the world.”

The new drama, which hits theaters today, tells the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German man whose faith in humanity was tested during the rise and rule of Adolf Hitler. From early on, he attempted to fight the rise of Naziism as his country slowly turned towards it and the hatred it represented. 

During the early part of the feature, Bonhoeffer studies to become a preacher, realizing quickly how hate can take many forms and shapes. After he returns to Germany after studying abroad, he learns about the rise of Hitler, a man who starts taking control over government entities and the Church. As Hitler gains power, Bonhoeffer becomes an outcast, urging others — including Church leaders — to reject Hitler’s unrelenting hatred.

As Bonhoeffer faces the reality that Church leaders have fallen away from their teachings, a priest tells Bonhoeffer that “Bravery is a rare commodity, Dietrich, especially when it’s needed the most.” As the story continues, the title character continues to fight against the rising power of Hitler in his different capacities. As the title notes, Bonhoeffer was — during his remarkable lifetime — a man who strove to be a pastor, a spy and an assassin.

Directed by Todd Komarnicki, the feature shows the many roles Bonhoeffer held during his life. It also nicely shows how institutions themselves fell prey to Hitler. Oftentimes films set during World War 2 focus on the military battles during the war. This one, however, focuses on the moral battles behind the scenes as faith leaders slowly compromised their values and their belief in the Bible, ultimately choosing their political leader over their religion.      

The feature works best when it focuses on how people can be manipulated and controlled by government leaders. It’s here where the script by Todd Komarnicki offers some insight on how controlling leaders yield political power leading shepherds directly into the arms of a craven wolf.

The film also does a nice job showing how true leaders stand out during the midst of dire moments. Bonhoeffer, for one, faces setback after setback but clings to the Gospel and his belief in a higher power.

There, however, are a number of missed opportunities here. After introducing Bonhoeffer at a young age, the feature struggles to find its footing early on. There are scenes about racism at the beginning that hint at what it is come (“Hate comes in every color,” Bonhoeffer’s friend tells him) but seem out of place in the story and drag on a bit too long.

Additionally, the story downplays the assassination attempt against Hitler. Despite that being one of Bonhoeffer's most prominent roles, the film doesn't delve into it as much as it could have. There are a few scenes about the plan and its execution but it never fully explores the plan itself and how it fell apart.

As an exploration of Bonhoeffer, however, the film succeeds in exploring his faith and his role in attempting to spread the rise of Naziism. He was a remarkable man and the movie shows the different facets of his heroic life. It also shows how hatred can quickly rise when only a few people are brave enough to stand up for their values.