Luther

Luther (2003) is a German-American historical drama you can watch online on iFILM, directed by Eric Till with Joseph Fiennes in the title role. The film tracks the early 16th century journey of Martin Luther from an anxious Augustinian monk to the man who cracked the foundations of the medieval Church — driven not by ambition but by a question he couldn't stop asking: what does the selling of indulgences have to do with the Gospel?

When Luther nails his ninety-five theses to the Wittenberg church door, the film makes clear he expected a theological debate, not a continent-wide rupture. Alfred Molina plays Cardinal Cajetan with controlled menace, Peter Ustinov brings warmth to the Elector Frederick, and Bruno Ganz is Luther's mentor Staupitz — the quiet voice that keeps nudging him forward when he wants to back down. After escaping a heresy trial, Luther retreats to Wartburg Castle and spends months rendering the New Testament into German that ordinary people could actually read.

Fiennes plays Luther as a man in constant doubt rather than triumphant conviction, which is what separates this from the statelier sort of religious biopic. Stream Luther (2003) online on iFILM.