Review of Martin Luther

"Martin Luther" is a 1953 Protestant church produced film directed by Irving Pichel. The movie illustrates the birth of the Reformation movement and Protestantism, in which Martin Luther was a key figure. The biopic accurately portrays the tensions between Protestant and Catholic churches stirred by the Martin Luther's interpretation of the Scripture and subsequent criticism of the Roman Catholic Church. As the movie was Lutheran Church produced, Martin Luther was presented as a righteous revolutinary and Catholic Church as the antagonist. Martin Luther cannot feel himself a son of God or truly love him due to his disagreement with Roman Catholic Church interpretation and teachings of the Scripture. Firstly, it is depicted in the movie how Martin Luther tries to find assurance in life and connection to God, so he quits the studies of law not wanting to be a "skeleton of his own feast". By comparing himself to a skeleton, Luther acknowledges how unsatisfied he is with what the study of law granted him, and he did not want to live in such conditions no more, bringing sadness to his own life. However, in monastery life as he achieves priesthood, he is still not certain about loving God and reasons it with his mentor that he is sinful. What he later discovers is that the Church emphasizes the implacable judgements and portrays Jesus more as "a relentless avenger", not the one who grants mercy to all who seek repentance. This Church rhetoric based on sins committed by human race and not devotion to God gives reason for Martin Luther to seek for answers in the Scripture, and when he does so is condemned by not agreeing with established interpretations. Luther came to conclusion that the Scripture is the only source of devotion, not the Pope. Thus, 'Sola Fide' established by Luther in the movie becomes the principle of the Reformed branches of Protestantism, where salvation is sought by faith alone, not by good deeds, which are more of just an evidence of good faith. Luther argues with his mentor about interpreting the Scripture in one's own way and translating it to the vernacular language, arguing that there would be more Christians if done so. Interesting remark is added in the movie when Luther nailed his "Ninety-Five Theses" to the doors of the castle church in Whittenburg, where one of the common people brushed over the relevance of the document, saying it is "just something in Latin". This moment shows how important it was for common people to get the translations and educate themselves on the teachings of the Church they followed without speaking or reading Latin. By understanding the Scripture, common people could too interpret it in their own way and oppose to the Roman Catholic Church policies and Pope's abuse of power. The spread of Luther's texts written in vernacular language influenced the way people saw Church, namely when indulgences sale dropped considerably. Abuse of power of clergy in the Roman Catholic Church is clearly shown in the movie and condemned by Martin Luther. The very sales of indulgences, which reduced temporal punishment in the purgatory for oneself or loved ones were the last straw for Martin Luther in the biopic to nail his theses to the door of the Church. As he argued in his theses, salvation cannot be bought, as it gives a dangerous precedent for people not seeking repentance anymore, as they now they could practically bribe their way to heaven. It is important to consider the fact that the movie was produced in collaboration with the Lutheran Church, which was interested in criticizing the Catholic Church and portraying it as corrupt and misguiding for its followers. Pope Leo, depicted as a corrupt self-centered ruler, wanted to only increase the Treasury of the Church, not caring about the consequences of this policy of indulgences. According to Luther, the symbols or relics of the Church that represent the meaning of the sacredness lost its relevance due to their material nature. Although, the relics should not be disrespected, as the protagonists scolded his followers for desecration of churches and sacred relics, they should not be put before faith, which is the only way of truly connecting to God and seeking salvation. The focus on symbols such relics, as well as the Church and the Pope, gives clergy power over people to the point Church controls the fear of judgement from both God and Church. In this sense, putting the fear of judgement of God before faith itself centers the focus on the benefits of the belief that will save them from God's judgement rather than on God himself. Avoiding judgement becomes of too much importance, as people seek ways of reducing their imminent punishments. The consequence of that is the abuse of power by the Church who take up on the role of punishing or, conversely, granting reduced punishments in the afterlife as a reward for donations to the Church. The movie "Martin Luther" displays the events in Martin Luther's life that led to the Reformation movement and does so by criticizing the Roman Catholic Church and placing Martin Luther's views as necessary action towards what he deemed not righteous.