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Utah-based Angel Studios are doing outstanding work. Their brave 2023 film Sound of Freedom absolutely smashed it at the box office, and they continue to produce and distribute award-winning titles from independent creators.

Remarkably, crowdfunding supports Angel Studios’ productions. Through their innovative Guild Membership, fans can support films and filmmakers and have a say in what content is created. Co-founder and CEO Neal Harmon is a self-described Latter-Day Saint and, along with brother Jeff, has a fascinating background.

Despite this, or perhaps due to their interesting backstory, Angel Studios’ films and TV shows are high-quality, faith-based and mostly family-friendly. They’re certainly refreshing compared to Hollywood’s usually tired entertainment, and audiences seem to be voting for Angel Studios with their dollars.

On Wednesday last week, Dad, Mum (Dads4Kids Founders Warwick & Alison Marsh), and I were able to squeeze in a trip to our local Gala Cinemas for a screening of Bonhoeffer, one of Angel Studios‘ latest films. We were not disappointed.

If you’re not familiar with the incredible true-life story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the film’s logline gives a great summary: “As the world teeters on the brink of annihilation, Dietrich Bonhoeffer joins a deadly plot to assassinate Hitler, risking his faith and fate to save millions of Jews from genocide.” Watch our video of the week below for more on the making of Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.

Written and directed by Todd Komarnicki (who also wrote the box office hit Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood), Bonhoeffer is a beautifully made film. Jonas Dassler dazzles as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, August Diehl nails Martin Niemoller, and the rest of the supporting cast and crew are exceptional.

As with most biopics, the filmmakers have embellished some timelines and minor details here and there. However, Bonhoeffer’s story stands as a shining example of the need to call out tyranny and injustice, even if it costs your life. Komarnicki sums it up beautifully:

“Political courage has essentially disappeared (today). We live in a time where to open your mouth, let alone your heart, will unleash a trap door beneath our feet. Twitter (X) hasn’t made us bolder with our opinions but has caused us to shape them to fit our notion of the crowd. We love to pile on, but we dare not stand out. There has never been a better time to show the world that courage is not a luxury or a fad; it is a necessity if society is to keep from destroying itself.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer still stands as a lighthouse, to remind us that we need each other. That we are all connected. And where one man suffers, we all do.”

Do your best to follow Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s example. Make a commitment to live your life like a lighthouse. Stand strong, be a guide to others, protect, and lead your family in love. If every dad was to do this, we could turn the ship around and keep society from destroying itself.

Lovework

If you can, get along to Bonhoeffer while it’s still in cinemas. At the time of writing, it’s still playing in around 50 cinemas across Australia – visit flicks.com.au to find your nearest screening. The film is not yet available for streaming in Australia, but check out angel.com to find out more and keep up to date.

The film is rated PG-13 and is not suitable for young children due to some mild themes and violence (some scenes are confronting). If you have older children (14 years or above), consider watching the movie together. Bonhoeffer’s story is certainly compelling and illuminates many important issues for us today. Hopefully, like me, you’ll be encouraged and spurred on in your fatherhood. After all, we dads can all do with some encouragement from time to time.

Yours for courageous fathering,
Nathaniel Marsh

P.P.S. If you’re encouraged by the work of Dads4Kids and would like to help us continue Building Men, Growing Fathers, and Changing Generations, please consider making a tax-deductible donation here.

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Republished with thanks to Dads4Kids.