Luther MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +4 Content: +2 1/2

Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes), first seen in 1507 as a young, aspiring student in a German monastery, is sent by his mentor, John Von Stapuitz (Bruno Ganz), to study theology in Wittenburg. While there, Luther begins to struggle with practices of the Catholic church, most notably the selling of indulgences, a ticket to deliver deceased loved ones from purgatory. As he studies the Scriptures, he realizes that they teach salvation by Christ alone, faith alone and Scripture alone. Luther posts his famous 95 theses on the door at Wittenburg, and thus begins his battle with the church officials that leads to the Protestant Reformation. When he refuses to recant his beliefs, he is forced to go into hiding and there begins translating the New Testament into German. Luther watches in horror as some of his overzealous followers lose their lives in violent riots. As many others take up the cause peacefully, the Reformation comes into full swing and heads toward a break with Rome.

Luther is an inspiring story of one mans pursuit of God and his tremendous courage in the midst of constant threat. As the young man seeks God through the Scriptures and fights for faith over tradition, he grows from a timid young man into a bold leader. The film contains some violence, but none of it is especially bloody or gratuitous. Several people are shown hanging from gallows, a man is shown tied to a stake in preparation for burning and a young boy commits suicide by hanging, although the actual hanging is not shown. People riot, and buildings burn. An aftermath scene shows a man with his arm cut off and several dead bodies. The language is mild, and damn and hell are used frequently but always in discussions of eternal judgment, not as obscenities. Preview recommends Luther, with a mild warning about the violent images. It is a good film with the emphasis on salvation through Christ, not the Church.

Preview Reviewer: Bob Nusser
Distributor: NFP