Bonhoeffer is a portrait of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, widely considered one of the great Christian figures of the 20th century for his stance against Nazi fascism, which ultimately led to his death. Source: Australian Catholics.
The title of his most famous book, The Cost of Discipleship, with its distinction between cheap grace and costly grace, has been powerfully influential on the nature and living Christian discipleship.
The subtitle on the advertising and promotion is not in the film itself. But, there are three tantalising words: pastor, spy and assassin to evoke curiosity.
The film portrays Bonhoeffer’s involvement in a deadly plot to assassinate Hitler, risking his faith and fate to save millions of Jews from genocide.
Bonhoeffer is sponsored by Angel Studios, the American Christian production company, responsible recently for Sound of Freedom and Cabrini.
Filmed in Ireland and Belgium, the principal members of its cast are German. Jonas Dassler is effective as Bonhoeffer (with quite some resemblance in features). Veteran Bleibtreu is Bonhoeffer’s father and Diehl is a minister who defies the Nazis and goes to prison.
This is a portrait of Bonhoeffer, not a full biography, but highlights key issues in his life. In fact, there are quite a number of other films about Bonhoeffer, some biographies and in 2025, another cinema portrait, Holy Traitor.
There is a complex structure for the screenplay. There are initial sequences of the lively young Dietrich and his family in 1914, in the midst of World War One.
Then there is a transition to 1945, where we see Bonhoeffer imprisoned, experiencing flashbacks of the past as he awaits his impending execution. The flashbacks are always seen in the light of his ultimate fate and faith.
Commentators have pointed out that many aspects of Bonhoeffer’s life are not included and some changes in factual aspects, especially the location of his death.
This film is an opportunity to see him, admire him, reflect on his moral choices, reflect on his faith, costly grace and the final cost of his discipleship.
Review by Fr Peter Malone MSC, Jesuit Media
Bonhoeffer: Starring Jonas Dassler, August Diehl, David Jonsson, Moritz Bleibtreu, Vincent Franklin, Clarke Peters. Directed by Todd Komarnicki.132 minutes. Rated PG (mild themes and violence).
FULL REVIEW
Bonhoeffer (Australian Catholics)
