I thought Ulrich Tukur was very good in the role of Bonhoeffer. Just the right blend of clear caring and concern, and German control, except in the first scene (see further below.)

I thought that the movie, though was incredibly telescoped. Whole sections of the life of B that had relevance were telescoped into a word or two - and a huge amount was left out. In some cases it would have been very difficult to understand who someone was without already knowing the life of Bonhoeffer.

That said, there were a couple of things that really came out very clearly here. First was the sheer youth of Maria Von Wedermeyer. She was a mere 19 year old thing, engaged to a man 20 years her senior. If he weren't in prison it would almost be uncomfortable. I hadn't thought about that before. The second was the reluctance to really get involved, and the sheer amount of inner struggle over what to do between 1939 and the fall of France. Bethge presents it as almost an instantaneous decision, but the letters that Bonhoeffer writes around his trip to New York in 1939 present someone very much wrestling with what to do.

I really liked that the movie started out with him in New York, playing Spirituals on the piano with an African American friend (presumably Frank Fisher). In a real experience of gaity and a very emotional moment, just before heading back to Germany. This really places the story in a context that makes huge sense for me.

The movie is very much about the ethical struggle. I can recommend it, if you know something about Bonhoeffer. If you don't - watch the 2003 documentary BEFORE watching "Agent of Grace." You'll get more out of the latter.