Reformation at the movies: A review of recent Reformation documentaries (Timothy Raymond)

Here is an excerpt from his article:

A couple weeks ago my family and I were walking to a baseball game when my nine-year old son suddenly commented, “I’m really glad that I’m alive during the 500^th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.”  That a nine-year old would even think such a thought probably says more about his father and what excites him, than anything else.  But what my son’s comment does illustrate is how it’s hard to avoid noticing all the hoopla in celebration of the 500^th anniversary of the posting of the ninety-five theses.  I’ve seen Reformation-themed books, music, coffee mugs, bottle openers, water bottles, ball caps, t-shirts, hoodies, blankets, board games, a Playmobil figure, even a plush stuffed Martin Luther doll you can buy for your kids.  While certainly some of this merchandise is merely kitschy moneymaking opportunism, I do believe that the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation is worth remembering and celebrating.

Along these lines, it probably comes as no surprise that there has been a tsunami of Reformation documentaries produced recently.  I have had the opportunity to watch several of these in the last few months (usually while folding the laundry in the evenings), and below I review six such films, evaluating them on their: 1) theological content, 2) aesthetic quality, 3) enjoyment factor; and 4) overall usefulness for local church ministry.  In each area, I rate each video on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the highest rating.

However, before I do that, a preliminary comment is in order.  After watching perhaps three or four Reformation documentaries, I quickly discovered that the theological perspective of the producers has an enormous impact on how the material is presented.  They more-or-less cover all the same basic historical events: Luther’s lightning storm commitment to be a monk, the Indulgences fiasco, the posting of the ninety-five theses, the Diet of Worms, Luther’s Bible translation, etc.  But what the producers believe about the virtue of these events is manifest in the manner in which they are depicted (e.g., was Luther a courageous hero or a confused vigilante?).  I say that here only because some documentaries, while being superb in the aesthetic realm are deplorable in the theological content category (and to a degree, vice versa).

Keeping that preface in mind, below are six Reformation documentaries for your consideration.  For full disclosure, I evaluate them from the perspective of a confessional Baptist, who believes the Reformation was a mighty work of God for the revival of his Church, who also enjoys good-quality films. …