Luther

Set during the Renaissance-era upheavals in the Holy Roman Empire, the film follows Luther from his conversion in 1505 through the 1510s and into the early 1520s. It maps the rise of reformist ideas as indulgences and church authority come under scrutiny. The period culminates in the Diet of Worms and the Augsburg Confession, reflecting a decade of religious and political struggle.

The story spans Erfurt, Wittenberg, Worms, Wartburg Castle, Rome and Augsburg. In Erfurt, Luther joins the Augustinian order at the St. Augustine Monastery. Wittenberg becomes the hub of his teaching and the birthplace of his reforming ideas, while Worms hosts his famous trial. Wartburg Castle provides a protected refuge as Rome and Augsburg frame the broader drama surrounding indulgences and imperial politics.

🕊️ Faith vs Dogma

The film centers on Luther's shift from viewing God as wrathful to embracing a message of divine love. It explores personal conscience clashing with church authority, and how conviction can fuel reform. The narrative shows faith as a lived, interpretive experience rather than blind obedience.

🧾 Indulgences

Indulgences are presented as a corrupt practice driving wealth to Rome and a tool for power. Luther's critique of indulgences sparks a public debate and a re-examination of what salvation means. The theme highlights how economic interests intertwine with spiritual claims.

⚖️ Dissent and Reform

Dissent arises as Luther posts his theses and refuses to recant at Worms, demonstrating the conflict between emerging national reform movements and papal authority. The film traces how institutional structures push back, while reformers mobilize princes to support religious change. The period culminates in the Augsburg Confession, formalizing a new Protestant identity.