This 90-minute DVD traces the life and legacy of Martin Luther from his birth in Eisleben to his ministry in Wittenberg and other places in Germany. This is a chronological presentation of Luther’s life based upon the vast writings of Luther and others during his lifetime. It is great resource for those who have never studied Luther’s life and as a review for those who know much about him. I would classify this as a historical, traditional study of Luther. It succeeds in presenting the facts on Luther, as much as we can know them. The chronological approach makes it fairly easy to see how Luther grew in his personal faith and understanding of God and His work of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The producers do a very good job in presenting Luther as a real human being, with strengths and weaknesses. We are reminded that Luther, like any other young person of his day, was deeply influenced by the values and beliefs of his parents, teachers, and others during these impressionable years. These close human relationships reveal an important aspect of Luther’s life—he experienced many of the common joys, struggles, and emotions that others experienced. This balanced portrayal of the man Luther is one of the strengths of this DVD, and it appeals to us today as we seek to understand and appreciate the real Martin Luther.

The producers also successfully mixed the narrative story of Luther’s life and ministry with video clips from the 2003 Luther movie. I especially enjoyed the interview clips with the actors as they shared their perspective on Luther and others they portrayed.

I thoroughly enjoyed viewing this historical documentary on the life of Luther, and I recommend it to others who want to learn more about the fascinating life of Luther and the Reformation period. I also enjoyed hearing the three Luther scholars from present-day Germany as they shared their analysis of Luther. They discussed the physical, emotional, and spiritual struggles of Luther, and especially his struggle to understand God as righteous and just as well as loving and forgiving.

I was impressed with how the producers of this DVD combined narrative, visual, musical, and theatrical elements together in telling the story of Luther and his impact upon Germany and the Christian Church. My church will be viewing this movie for our Reformation Family Night activity. I recommend it as an educational tool with older children, mainly confirmation classes and high school students. I am also considering using this movie as part of new member classes and possible outreach to the local community.

Pr. Craig Benson
Amazing Grace Free Lutheran & St. Peter Lutheran
Armour, SD

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