The studio behind the upcoming anti-Nazi movie Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin is offering free tickets to "antisemites" in an unprecedented move.
Set for a theatrical release on November 22, the movie tells the story of famed German Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who opposed antisemitism and dictator Adolf Hitler, and stands as a hero and example to many Christians.
Angel Studios, which released last year's surprise summer hit Sound of Freedom, has announced in the weeks leading up to the film's debut that those who hold antisemitic views will be given free access to the film.
"To fight against antisemitism, we are doing something unexpected ... giving free tickets to antisemites for Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin, in theaters November 22," reads a post recently shared on Angel Studios' Facebook account.
The post, which includes a trailer, shares a synopsis of the film that reads: "As the German church is [corrupted] by the ideology of the Nazis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer is swept into the epicenter of a deadly plot to assassinate Hitler.
"With his faith and fate at stake, Bonhoeffer must choose between upholding his moral convictions or risking it all to save millions of Jews from genocide."
An accompanying link takes visitors to Angel Studios' website, where they can look for and book local show times. It has not been specified how those who identify as antisemitic will be able to gain access to free tickets.
Newsweek has contacted a representative of Angel Studios via email for comment.
The initiative won widespread praise from Facebook users, one of whom wrote: "Thank you so much for this ad taking a strong public stance against the antisemitism running rampant in this country.
"Your courage and moral clarity are so much appreciated. I see you needed to add a disclaimer. That is fine, but if you are getting pushback, please stand strong and keep the ad everywhere."
Another questioned the move, but expressed hope it might affect change, commenting: "Ignorance is strong and young these days. I can't imagine those people would even want to see it, even for free. I guess there is always hope."
Serving as Todd Komarnicki's directorial film debut, Bonhoeffer stars Jonas Dassler as titular figure Bonhoeffer, the founding member of the Confessing Church.
Per a synopsis, the film sheds light on Bonhoeffer's time in the U.S., where his experiences in Brooklyn, New York, "profoundly influenced his worldview."
"There, he witnessed the segregation and systemic injustices faced by the Jewish community, drawing parallels to the discrimination he had seen developing back in Germany," the synopsis continues. "This eye-opening experience intensified his understanding of the deep-rooted hatred and persecution that could destroy societies, ultimately shaping his commitment to opposing Nazi ideology and protecting Jewish lives."
In a statement of his own, director Komarnicki said, in part: "Political courage has essentially disappeared in 2023. We live in a time where to open your mouth, let alone your heart, will unleash a trap door beneath our feet.
"Twitter 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."
A survey released last month by the Combat Antisemitism Movement found that 61 percent of Jewish Americans said they had experienced antisemitism since Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, with Holocaust denial and conspiracies surrounding Jewish control of the media featuring prominently.
The Hamas attack -- in which Israeli officials said nearly 1,200 people were killed and some 250 more were taken hostage -- sparked a retaliatory invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel that has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths, according to The Associated Press. Israel's military action has sparked widespread protests.
President Joe Biden's administration strongly condemned the October 7 attacks and has ramped up efforts to counter antisemitism, including enhancing security for Jewish institutions, urging social media platforms to combat antisemitic content, and reinforcing antidiscrimination laws on college campuses, per the White House.