Martin Luther turned the world upside down in 1517 as the originator of the Reformation – he made powerful enemies with his 95 theses against the sale of indulgences. Our Luther film adaptation “Between Heaven and Hell” tells the story of the beginnings of the Reformation – with Maximilian Brückner as Martin Luther and Jan Lennart Krauter as his companion Thomas Müntzer.
“Between Heaven and Hell” describes how the 95 Theses – also thanks to the printing press – triggered a political upheaval. The church retaliates and excommunicates the spokesman Martin Luther. However, when Luther did not recant his theses even before the emperor, the Reformation could no longer be stopped. However, Luther soon struggles with his companions Thomas Müntzer, Andreas Bodenstein(Johannes Klaußner), Lukas Cranach(Christoph Maria Herbst) and the two runaway nuns Käthe(Frida-Lovisa Hamann) and Ottilie (Aylin Tezel) struggle to find the right path. Thomas Müntzer wants to enforce a fairer world, even against the sovereigns. Martin Luther rejects all violence. Reformation stands against revolution. The dispute ends with the devastating Battle of Frankenhausen. Martin Luther has to live with the guilt of the deaths of thousands of peasants and Thomas Müntzer’s execution.