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Bonhoeffer (film)

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Bonhoeffer
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTodd Komarnicki
Written byTodd Komarnicki
Produced by
  • Emmanuel Kampouris
  • Camille Kampouris
  • Ralph Winter
  • Mark O'Sullivan
  • Chloe Kassis-Crowe
  • John Bennett Scanlon
  • Todd Komarnicki
Starring
CinematographyJohn Mathieson
Edited byBlu Murray
Music byAntonio Pinto
Gabriel Ferreira
Production
companies
  • Tharos Films
  • Crow's Nest Productions
  • Fontana
Distributed byAngel Studios
Release date
  • November 22, 2024 (2024-11-22)
Running time
132 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Belgium
  • Ireland
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.6 million[2]

Bonhoeffer (released as Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.) is a 2024 historical drama thriller film about the German theologian and anti-Nazi dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer, written, produced and directed by Todd Komarnicki. It stars Jonas Dassler, August Diehl, David Jonsson, Flula Borg, Moritz Bleibtreu, and Clarke Peters.

The film was released in the United States on November 22, 2024.

Bonhoeffer caused controversy before its release. In addition to numerous historical inaccuracies and misleading marketing, the film was accused of promoting viewpoints of the Christian right, including conspiracy theories.[3][4][5] Descendants of Dietrich Bonhoeffer distanced themselves from the film.[6]

Premise

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Set in 1940s Berlin, it dramatizes the life of German theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who stood up to the Nazis during the Third Reich.[7]

Cast

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Production

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In 2018, Komarnicki discussed shooting the film, then titled God's Spy, describing it as a "profound and pretty untold story of heroism from World War II."[8]

In January 2023, Jonas Dassler was confirmed in the role of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Flula Borg, David Jonsson, August Diehl, and Moritz Bleibtreu were confirmed as cast. Cinematographer John Mathieson and production designer John Beard were also revealed to be on-board the project.[9]

Principal photography took place in Ireland in locations such as counties Limerick,[10] Clare and Tipperary,[11] and St Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork.[12][13] Filming also took place in Belgium, in Brussels, Liege,[14] and Spa.[15] According to Variety filming wrapped before March 2023.[16]

Release

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In November 2023, Angel Studios acquired worldwide rights to the film, which had been retitled from God's Spy to Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin.[17] It was released in the United States on November 22, 2024.[18]

Reception

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Critical reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 58% of 26 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.4/10.[19]

In a positive review, Joe Leydon of Variety wrote, "If it had been released just two years ago, Bonhoeffer might have come across as simply the latest in a long line of respectable but predictable period dramas about brave Germans who dared to stand up to the Nazi regime. Today, however, the movie feels more like an uncomfortably timely cautionary tale with unsettling echoes of current events."[20]

Controversy

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In the German weekly Die Zeit, experts on Bonhoeffer, including presidents of the International Bonhoeffer Society and the publishers of Bonhoeffer's work in German and English, accuse the movie of abusing Bonhoeffer's life in order to promote Christian nationalism.[4] The film's slogan, "How far will you go to stand up for what's right?", is not a question Bonhoeffer asked, they write. On the same page of Die Zeit, Bonhoeffer's grandnephew Tobias Korenke calls ads for the film that depict Bonhoeffer holding a pistol an outrageous reversal of history.[21]

The International Bonhoeffer Society released a statement in which several actors involved, including Jonas Dassler, August Diehl and David Jonsson, condemned the film's appropriation by Christian nationalists.[22] The signatories criticised the misuse of Bonhoeffer's life and legacy by right-wing extremists.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Bonhoeffer (2024)". Irish Film Classification Office. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "Fake News über einen NS-Widerstandskämpfer" [Fake news about a Nazi resistance fighter]. Deutschlandfunk (in German). November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "So war Bonhoeffer nicht!" [Bonhoeffer was not like that!]. Die Zeit (in German). October 16, 2024. ISSN 0044-2070. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Steinitz, David (November 18, 2024). "Trump-Fans missbrauchen Bonhoeffers Erbe" [Trump supporters abuse Bonhoeffer's legacy]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  6. ^ Kreiskott, Mischa (November 15, 2024). "Bonhoeffer-Nachfahre Korenke: "Bonhoeffer wird gezielt missbraucht"" [Bonhoeffer descendant Korenke: 'Bonhoeffer is being deliberately misused']. Norddeutscher Rundfunk (in German). Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Filming in St Fin Barre's: Major movie shoot takes place in cathedral". echolive.ie. January 13, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  8. ^ "Portrait of the Artist: Todd Komarnicki". Tribeca Citizen. December 6, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  9. ^ Grobar, Matt (January 12, 2023). "Jonas Dassler To Topline Thriller 'God's Spy' From Writer-Director Todd Komarnicki; Flula Borg, Clarke Peters & More Also Set". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Lynch, Richard (January 16, 2023). "Gods Spy, the Story of legendary German Theologian-Turned-Spy Filming in Limerick". IloveLimerick.ie. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  11. ^ "Tipperary chosen as major location for €22m blockbuster movie God's Spy". Tipperary Live. January 17, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Fitton, Daire (January 11, 2023). "Oscar-nominated talent in Cork as shooting for new film 'God's Spy' takes place in city". Corkbeo.ie. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  13. ^ Casey, Jess (January 11, 2023). "Filming for Second World War biopic under way in Cork City". Irish Examiner. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  14. ^ de Beaudrap, Anne-Françoise (September 23, 2022). "Casting pour un film d'époque bientôt tourné en Belgique" [Casting for a period film soon to be shot in Belgium]. Cathobel (in French). Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "Le tournage du film hollywoodien sur le point de débuter à Spa, on recherche des figurants" [Hollywood movie about to start filming in Spa, extras needed]. Sudinfo (in French). November 9, 2022.
  16. ^ Jackson, Angelique (March 3, 2023). "CAA Signs 'Industry,' 'Rye Lane' Star David Jonsson (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Grobar, Matt (November 17, 2023). "'Sound Of Freedom' Studio Angel Studios Acquires True-Life WWII Thriller 'Bonhoeffer'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (April 10, 2024). "Angel Studios Sets Release Dates For Bonhoeffer, Homestead & New Animated Musical David – CinemaCon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  20. ^ Leydon, Joe (November 21, 2024). "'Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.' Review: Angel Studios' Biopic of an Anti-Nazi WWII Hero Seems Unsettlingly Timely". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  21. ^ Finger, Evelyn (October 16, 2024). ""Großonkel mit Pistole": Und was sagt die Familie von Dietrich Bonhoeffer dazu? Ein Gespräch mit Tobias Korenke" ["Great Uncle with a Gun": And what does Dietrich Bonhoeffer's family say about this? A conversation with Tobias Korenke]. Die Zeit. p. 64. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  22. ^ "STATEMENT: Lead Actors in "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin" Speak Out Together Against the Misuse of Bonhoeffer's Legacy". The International Bonhoeffer Society. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  23. ^ Mariani, Carlo (November 6, 2024). "«Tief besorgt über den Missbrauch durch christliche Nationalisten in den USA»: Schauspieler des Films über den Nazi-Gegner Dietrich Bonhoeffer wehren sich" ["Deeply concerned about abuse by Christian nationalists in the USA": Actors in the film about the Nazi opponent Dietrich Bonhoeffer defend themselves]. Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved November 9, 2024.
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