| Book Review | The American Historical Review, 109.5

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| Book Review | The American Historical Review, 109.5 | The History Cooperative

Book Review

Europe: Early Modern and Modern

Luther. Directed by Eric Till. Produced by Dennis A. Clauss. Written by Camille Thomasson and Bart Gavigan. Germany. English and Latin. 2003; color; 113 minutes. Distributed by R. S. Entertainment Inc.
Luther is a sympathetic, big-budget portrayal of the famous sixteenth-century religious reformer. Bankrolled by the American Fraternal Benefit Society for Lutherans, Thrivent Financial, it was filmed in Germany and Europe by Neue Film Produktion. Over two hours long and spanning twenty-three years (1507–1530), the movie follows Martin Luther's career from his conversion on the stormy road to Erfurt to the German princes' successful defense of Lutheran doctrine before Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg. With Joseph Fiennes in the leading role, Eric Till, who previously gave us the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, directs a cast of distinguished actors: Bruno Ganz as Luther's mentor and confidant Johannes von Staupitz, Peter Ustinov as Saxon elector Frederick III (the Wise), Alfred Molina as slick indulgence salesman Johannes Tetzel, and, most beguiling of all, Claire Cox as Katherina von Bora.	1
Among the Reformation's dramatis personae, one misses most the presence of painter Lucas Cranach the Elder, who pops up only momentarily to tell the Elector of Saxony that Luther can be "a bit of a donkey." His great rival, Albrecht Dürer, also on the Saxon elector's payroll, has a better cameo. It was at Cranach's house that Luther courted von Bora, then Cranach's ward, and he later stood as sole lay witness at their marriage and as godfather of their first son, a role Luther had earlier played at the birth of Cranach's youngest daughter. Over three decades Cranach shaped the popular and official image of the Reformation's message and its major players, contributing more to its success than any other member of Luther's circle.	. . .

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