The Reformation (revised, 1979)

The film explores the significant historical context of the Catholic Church during the late medieval period, particularly around the year 1300. It highlights the church’s role as a unifying force amidst political divisions in Western Europe, offering hope to the impoverished populace through promises of salvation and eternal life. The narrative discusses the church’s wealth and power, the controversial sale of indulgences, and the emergence of reformist ideas, particularly by Martin Luther, who challenged the church’s practices. Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses in 1517 sparked the Protestant Reformation, leading to a significant shift in religious authority and the rise of various Protestant denominations. The film also touches on the Catholic Church’s response to these challenges, including reforms initiated at the Council of Trent.

Keywords
Catholic Church, medieval period, salvation, Martin Luther, 95 Theses, Protestant Reformation, indulgences, political power, Council of Trent, individualism, Renaissance, religious reform

We digitized and uploaded this film from the A/V Geeks 16mm Archive. Email us at footage@avgeeks.com if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project.