BONHOEFFER: Agent of Grace
THEATRICAL FEATURE
A Canada/Germany co-production with NFP TeleartGmbH
Starring:Ulrich Tukur, Ulrich Noethen, Robert Joy,
Johanna Klante, R.H. Thomson, John Neville, Blu Mankuma
Writer: Gareth Jones, Eric Till
Producer: D. Judson, K. Krause, R. Nielsen, G. Pfandner, K. Rittig, C. Stehr, A. Thies
Director: Eric Till
WHAT IS WORSE? TO DO EVIL OR BE EVIL?
AWARDS AND HONORS
- 2000 Golden Nymphe (Nymphe D'Or) - 40th International TV Festival of Monte Carlo
- One Future Prize - Munich Filmfest
- Bronze Plaque - 48th Annual Columbus International Film and Video Festival
- Selection for Screening - 2000 Banff Television Festival
- Nomination - Nombre D'Or International Widescreen Festival (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- Bronze World Medal - N.Y. Festivals: Television Programming and Promotion Competition
- Gold Screenwriting Prize - DAG (Germany)
- Nomination (Epiphany Prize) - Movieguide Awards
- Best Film - RIAS Awards
- Selection for Screening - UNDA-WACC (Helsinki, Finland)
- Nomination - Best Supporting Actor (Robert Joy) - 2001 Gemini Awards
SYNOPSIS
The inmate of cell 92 at Berlin's Military prison in 1943/44 was an ordinary prisoner. For the Gestapo, he was a very special person - Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer - a 37-year-old theologian, university lecturer, and priest who was allowed to teach, preach and publish in Nazi Germany. Arrested under the suspicion of conspiracy against the "Fuehrer" and after an odyssey through several concentration camps, Bonhoeffer was executed at down on April 9, 1945, less than a month away Germany's surrender.
Its the true story about the last six years in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life - the story of one of the most extraordinary human beings or our century - an "Agent of Grace". His decent from an upper-class family and his own distinguished academic career in the U.S. made him suspect for treason. After coming back from the States the confessing priest became involved as a courier for the secret resistance group - even prepared to kill Hitler himself.
Just then he meets the 18-year-old Maria who will be the love of his life. On short occasions they can see each other, fall in love but keep writing letters, until he has been arrested. Maria searches for Dietrich in vain. But she never sees him again.
Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace is an emotional film about a man who starts out an inspired, courageous clergyman and later becomes first a political conspirator and then a martyr.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer has become a symbol of civil courage and indomitable faith.
Reviews:
(June 21, 2001)
"Among the words frequently applied to Bonhoeffer are brilliant and brave, and the 90 minute PBS film easily makes the case for his heroic status."
—Associated Press
"Ulrich Tukur, who plays Bonhoeffer, is so real, so authentic, so profoundly aware of all nuances, that we meet Bonhoeffer in him. The other actors are also superb. This excellent production harkens back to the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood in that it is devoid of objectionable elements. However the emotive entertainment value is never compromised."
—MovieGuide
"Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace is a wonderful introduction to one of the most remarkable Christian martyrs of this past or any century. I hope you will watch the film, and I hope you will ask your neighbors to watch it with you."
—"Breakpoint" radio broadcast
"This is a must see!"
—iBelieve.com
(June 9, 2000)
"... a fine new film, 'Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace' ... shows us a theologian in action, rethinking what it means to serve God, love others, and, especially, to tell the truth. ... There's more than enough of Bonhoeffer's courage and depth to make 'Agent of Grace' a film with real force."
— Elesha Coffman, Christian History
CITY TV/PBS/BRAVO - 1999 |
