500 Years of reformation (2017)

The Great Beginning: 500 Years of Reformation is a German documentary film in three parts about Martin Luther and the Reformation of 1517. It is a program in the long-running series called “Terra X.” It was shown on German television (ZDF) and released on DVD in 2017. Here is some basic information about it:

** Original title: Der grosse Anfang: 500 Jahre Reformation 
** Presented by Harald Lesch
** Director: Andreas Sawall
** Writer: Ingo Helm
** Soundtrack: German
** Subtitles: German
** Run time: 43 + 44 + 43 minutes = 130 minutes
** Bonus feature: 1 item = 43 minutes
** Total run time: 173 minutes

As stated above, there are three episodes. Here are the headlines (in English):

# 1. The Spark
# 2. The Explosion
# 3. The Fire

The bonus feature is a documentary film presented by Petra Gerster. The German title is: Martin Luther: Petra Gerster auf den Spuren des Reformators. In English: Martin Luther: Petra Gerster in the Footsteps of the Reformer.

Episode # 1 focuses on the background. Here we meet the young Martin Luther who travelled to the Vatican in Rome. We learn how and why the Reformation began. The time frame is 1511-1521.

Episode # 2 focuses on social and economic problems; on the peasant war of 1525 and the conflict between two old friends and reformers: Martin Luther and Thomas Müntzer.

Episode # 3 focuses on how Martin Luther’s ideas spread to other places in Europe. The conflict between the Catholic Church and the Protestant or Lutheran Church.

What do reviewers say about it? On the German version of Amazon there are five reviews of this product. The average rating is 4.8 stars. If you ask me, this average rating is quite appropriate. This documentary about Martin Luther and the Reformation of 1517 is well done.

It is obvious to compare this film presented by Harald Lesch with a dramatized version of the Reformation that was shown on the same channel (ZDF): Zwischen Himmel und Hölle.

# 1. In the movie, the banker Jakob Fugger appears as a character, but we do not see much of him and what he does. In the documentary film, Harald Lesch presents the banker and explains why he played an important role in the history of the Reformation.

# 2. In the movie, there is not one word about Martin Luther and the Jews. This topic is simply ignored. Probably because the movie-makers did not wish to present the leading character in a bad light. In the documentary film, Harald Lesch takes up this issue and gives us the basic facts.

On both counts, the documentary film scores better than the movie.

What about the bonus feature? Petra Gerster follows in the footsteps of the great reformer. Obviously, there is some overlapping with the documentary film presented by Harald Lesch, but not much. The two items complement each other quite well. Petra Gerster presents some aspects and some details which are not mentioned by Harald Lesch. The bonus feature is a welcome addition to the three-part series.

As far as I can see, Der grosse Anfang – The Great Beginning – is an ABC product: accurate, balanced and comprehensive.

If you are interested in the history of Europe – in particular the connection between religion, politics and economics - this item is definitely something for you.

PS. Katharina Luther is a historical and biographical movie about the woman who was married to the great reformer. It was shown on German television (ARD) in 2017.

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