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NEVER GIVE UP
Paul T. Stallsworth
The Sundance Film Festival is held
every year in Park City, Utah, a ski-resort community of 8,000
residents. Lasting eleven days and founded by actor Robert
Redford, the film festival shows over 100 titles, which include
both movies and documentaries. Competition is tough: the 100 or
so films chosen each year are selected by Sundance officials from
thousands that are submitted. Needless to say, a showing at
Sundance often brings to a new film critical and financial
success.
“Bonhoeffer” is a documentary film
recently produced by Journey Films of Alexandria, Virginia. It
covers the fascinating life, faithful ministry, and tragic death
of the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The film visits
sites in Germany crucial to the life and times of Bonhoeffer.
Also, it features interviews with Bonhoeffer’s relatives and
friends, and it reenacts significant events in the theologian’s
life. Given the state of Hollywood today, one could assume that
“Bonhoeffer” is a much more serious film than most of the films
that vie for a showing at Sundance.
Even so, “Bonhoeffer” was entered
into the competition, along with 3,000 other films, for a showing
at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. It was probably not
surprising to its producers that they received a letter of
rejection from Sundance officials. But a single letter of
rejection did not stop their efforts for a public viewing of their
important work.
Instead of simply writing off the
Sundance event, the people behind “Bonhoeffer” contacted several
congregations in Park City and scheduled five showings of the film
in local churches. The film was advertised with posters and
handbills. The result? At least 1,000 people paid to view “Bonhoeffer.”
Those who saw the film responded very positively, even
enthusiastically.
The Reverend Scott Schiesswohl, who
pastors Park City Community Church, a United Methodist
congregation, commented: “To think that 600 people will turn out
for our showings, and pay for it, is remarkable. I think
Bonhoeffer went to a place most Christians won’t go. He saw the
[attempted] assassination [of Adolf Hitler, for which Bonhoeffer
was arrested and executed] as a last resort.” (The Washington
Times, 1/21/03)
Why is Dietrich Bonhoeffer so
important? Because he literally spent his life ministering,
working, struggling, and fighting for the integrity of the Gospel
and the Church of Jesus Christ. His struggle included endless
meetings with people who just did not get it, countless hours of
writing long letters, many dangerous encounters with enemies and
friends. Standing up against the German Christians, who were
pleased to go with the flow of Hitler’s National Socialism,
Bonhoeffer’s ministry was often lonely and seemingly hopeless.
And standing up against the Third Reich, Bonhoeffer displayed with
his own blood that opposing evil, with force limited by justice,
is sometimes and sadly necessary. Through it all, Bonhoeffer
never gave up.
And now comes the documentary “Bonhoeffer.”
It was rejected by the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. But
its producers pushed forward. And their film ended up being seen
by a thousand viewers. They never gave up.
Indeed, the perseverance of those
behind “Bonhoeffer” will mean that their film will probably be
seen by thousands -- perhaps hundreds of thousands, maybe even
millions -- of viewers. These viewers will see a documentary
story of the life and death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a man who
never gave up in his faithfulness to God in Jesus Christ, to the
Gospel, and to the Church.
By God’s grace, in our challenges,
through our trials, and against our temptations, we too should
never give up.
Never give up.
And to God be the glory.
From
February 2003 St. Peter’s Post |
