Michael and Margaretha's love and the deep, heartfelt connection they share is readily apparent throughout this entire film. Margaretha ended up losing her life because she believed in Michael's message and stood strongly beside him. Because she loved Michael as deeply as any woman could ever love a man, she could not renounce her beliefs or her love for him even though doing so would spare her life.
Brief Biography of Michael Sattler
Michael Sattler was a monk who left the Roman Catholic Church during the Protestant Reformation to become one of the early leaders of the Anabaptist movement.
Born in approximately 1490 in Staufen, Germany, Sattler became a Benedictine monk in the cloister of St. Peter and most likely became prior by the time he left in 1525. That year he traveled to Zurich, which was then embroiled in controversy over infant baptism. He became associated with the Anabaptists and was probably rebaptised in the summer of 1526. He was involved in missionary activity around Horb and
Tongue ripped out, flesh torn from his body, Michael is about to be burned alive.
Margaretha was drowned the next day.
Margaretha refuses saying that she will not. She says, "I do not follow my beliefs because of my husband, I follow my husband because of my beliefs."
Another terrific and inspirational site is the one for Liza Vann, the very talented lady that played Countess von Zollern. Don't miss this:
Liza Vann Website
Wikipedia Biography of Michael Sattler
Anabaptists.org Contains text of the charges against Michael and proceedings of his hearing on the day he was put to death. Screenplay writer Joel Kauffman paid particular attention to the detail in this transcript as he wrote for the movie.
Martyrs Mirror Bookstore that has many works about the Anabaptists and also Michael Sattler.
Homecomers.org Articles of charges against Michael Sattler, and a copy of a letter he wrote while in prison.
Schleitheim Confession Details of the seven articles, written during a time of severe persecution.
Producer and actor Robert Nowotny's fabulous website can be found here:
Needtovent.com
You will find well over 100 movie reviews, some pretty amazing and unique haiku, a kudos corner as well as great quotes from Goldwyn and others in the industry!
I know you will thoroughly enjoy your visit to the website of this extremely talented and creative man.
Originally presented as a special feature, this page became so popular that I gave it a permanent place of honor here. Thank you very much for your interest in The Radicals -- it continues to be one of the most viewed pages on this site!
Many people have commented on the touching love story between Michael and Margaretha, and how well it is portrayed in this movie. Their scenes are particularly poignant in this film and have a very genuine, warm and natural feel to them, bringing forth an incredible extra dimension in this moving story. I only hope that I have captured at least a small part of that here.
Michael Hostettler grew up in a missionary family setting in Brazil and was quite interested in bringing forth this important story based on the book Pilgrim Aflame. Joel Kauffmann ensured that the human story was featured just as prominently as the Anabaptist story, and paid particular attention to the love and devotion Michael and Margaretha Sattler had for each other, as well as telling the story of how they lived and ultimately died for their beliefs.
In the special featurette on the DVD, Robert Nowotny has a great story about their many attempts to get the weapons used in the battle scene, swords, lances and the like, from France into Switzerland because they didn't have the proper weapons permits in place. They finally managed to get them across a remote border crossing, and were able to proceed with the filming of the battle sequence.
In May, 1527, Sattler was arrested by Roman Catholic authorities, along with his wife and several other Anabaptists. He was tried and sentenced to be executed as a heretic. As part of his execution, his tongue was cut out, and red hot tongs were used to tear two pieces of flesh from his body. He was then taken outside the city by wagon, and the tongs were used on him five more times. After that, he was burned at the stake. The other men in the group were executed by sword, and the women, including Margaretha, were executed by drowning.
D. Michael Hostetler
Executive Producer
Joel Kauffmann
Screenplay (co-writer)
Robert A. Nowotny
Producer and Actor
Leigh Lombardi website
Be sure and check out the review of this movie on Robert Nowotny's website. He has taken parts of this page and featured it on his site, Needtovent.com -- What an honor it is to have him feature my tribute to this movie and Norbert on his website! There is more on his terrific website at the bottom of this page. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Robert!
Additional reading on Michael Sattler and the Anabaptists can be found through these links:
This website is presented as a tribute/fansite only and is not officially affiliated in any way with Mr. Weisser. There is no personal information about or contact information for him posted here.
Eberhard Hoffman, watching as Michael is tortured and burned at the stake.
While a Prior at St. Peter's church and monastery, Michael tries to reason with Eberhard Hoffman about over-taxing the peasants. Michael feels guilty about taking everything from them and leaving them nothing to live on. Hoffman argues that it will make the church stronger so they can fight against the Turks, but Michael doesn't agree. He studies a tract distributed by a local printer that causes him to think that perhaps the practices of the Catholic Church should be questioned.
Hoffman was the head of the Catholic church in the region, and is portrayed by veteran actor Mark Lenard.
Michael returns too late to save the printer from being burned alive by Hoffman's men on charges of treason because he distributed the tracts.
Margaretha is upset with Michael for taking everything the peasants own leaving them to freeze and go hungry through the harsh winter. She feeds soup and bread to endless numbers of them as she watches them starve before her eyes. He argues that he is torn about it but has to do what he can to support the church.
After searching his heart, Michael looks outside the church walls and decides to leave because of his conflicting beliefs. He stumbles over his words as he shyly asks Margaretha to go away with him and marry him. She joyously agrees.
These images show the early followers of Wilhelm Reublin. All of these people believed that baptism should be an adult choice. George is seen here being rebaptized as an adult, which was considered a crime.
Historical Note: Once a child was baptized, they were placed on the tax records and were an important source of income for the church. The idea of not baptizing infants outraged the Catholic church since they would be losing an important source of revenue. To believe otherwise meant that you could be brought up on charges of heresy and treason.
After leaving the monastery, Michael becomes a weaver. His is approached by Reublin and is asked to join forces with him. Michael agrees to attend a service where he is preaching so he can hear his message. Before he can attend, Zwingli has him brought in for questioning.
Ulrich Zwingli was the leader of the reformation in Switzerland. He is seen here discussing infant baptism with Wilhelm Reublin and two of his followers. Wilhelm is considered a Radical and Anabaptist because he is one of the first to preach against infant baptism.
The accomplished and very talented actor Christopher Neame appears as Ulrich Zwingli (center images above). Jerry Nelson is seen here on the bottom left as George Baulrock, a follower of Reublin's. Daniel Perrett is on the lower right as Wilhelm Reublin.
Zwingli offers Michael warm cider as he asks him to sign a paper stating that he is not a follower of Reublin's, stating that he has been banished for his beliefs and it may not be wise to associate with him.
Michael is put in prison and stands trial for heresy and crimes against the church. Countess von Zollern and others from the region look on as the church plots to turn the people against Michael.
Found by Hoffman's henchmen, Michael is arrested for preaching against infant baptism and the ways of the Cathollic church.
Zwingli is upset with Reublin and his followers for disrupting an infant baptism. They agree to discuss the issue, with Zwingli stating that they shall decide "Whether an infant baptized is an infant saved or merely an infant wet."
Liza Vann (Associate Producer) as Countess von Zollern. She goes to an imprisoned Margaretha offering her freedom and employment in her home if she will renounce her beliefs and her association with Michael.
These are a few images from the battle scene in the movie -- a battle between the Catholics and the Protestants. All of the costumes for the battle scene and the entire movie, over 700 people in all, were all sewn by volunteers -- primarily by women in Switzerland, for no pay. They wanted to be a part of the film because it had substance. Additionally, over twenty horses were provided for the movie for free by volunteers. These images do not do justice to the scope, effort and coordination that went into making this rather short scene in the movie.
Filming was done in 15th century towns and villages in Switzerland, France, and in Germany, in and around Strasbourg.
Michael may be open to Reublin's ideas, but Margaretha isn't so quick to follow him, and senses that they may need to exercise caution where he is concerned. She has more questions that he has answers.
Michael is briefly imprisoned by Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich for his association with Wilhelm Reublin, but is released when he says he hasn't joined forces with him.
Producer Robert A. Nowotny as a tortured man.
Hoffman took Michael to this dungeon as a warning to stop his teachings.
Many thanks to Mr. Nowotny for providing this
image for the website!
Irritated that one bad thread has ruined his cloth, Michael's visions of his church form while he discusses them with Margaretha, comparing the bad thread in the cloth to a bad person in the church -- it only takes one bad thread or idea to destroy any good.
Michael is seen above discussing his ideas with early followers. They meet in barns and caves so they can keep their meetings secret.
George and other followers of Wilhem's aren't so fortunate, and are imprisoned until they renounce their beliefs.
As they learn to weave cloth, they discuss the situation with the church. Margaretha plans on attending Wilhelm's service with Michael, but their plans are disrupted as men in armor take Michael away.
Swiss Brethren at Schleitheim with Michael as Chair of the meeting. This resulted in the seven articles of the Schleitheim Confession -- a declaration on Anabaptist belief that were written in 1527. These articles included an article against infant baptism and also the use of violence.
Two very powerful stories are woven together in the 1990 film The Radicals, directed by Raul Carrera. It is the biographical account of Michael Sattler who founded the Anabaptist movement around 1525. The other story, one that is just as apparent, is the story of the absolute love and devotion that Michael and Margaretha Sattler had for each other.
The movie begins by reminding viewers that by 1525 the Roman Catholics had united Europe for over 1000 years and their authority was under attack. Reformation had split Europe into two worlds -- Catholic and Protestant. Peasants were rebelling against heavy taxes, and Turkish invaders threatened to overrun Europe.
This film covers a very brief period in the lives of spiritual martyrs Michael Sattler, portrayed by Norbert Weisser, and Margaretha, the beautiful Leigh Lombardi. They broke away from their religious order, were married and then began a quest to return the church to the morality of its early years. Their efforts resulted in a movement the medieval world wasn't prepared to accept and stood ready to terminate -- by any means necessary.
The movie is based on Myron Augsburger's novel Pilgrim Aflame. The screenplay was written by Darryl Wimberly and Joel Kauffmann. Please pay special attention to the exceptional cinematography by Michael Bucher.
Executive Producer Michael Hostetler and Producer Robert A. Nowotny won the CINE Golden Eagle Award in the History category for this movie. Other film festival honors include the Chris Award from the Columbus International Film & Video Festival (1990), the Silver Award presented by Worldfest-Houston (1989), and the Wilbur Award given to “the best faith-based film of the year” by the Religious Public Relations Council of America (1990). Robert A. Nowotny, who plays a tortured man in this film, is also one of the producers, along with Liza Vann as the Associate Producer.
The movie is distributed by Gateway Films/Vision Video and is available from Amazon and other retailers. Included with the DVD is a copy of The Schleitheim Articles as authored on February 24, 1527. (Just as a trivia note, they also have a biographical DVD on Gladys Aylward, the English missionary woman who traveled to China in the 1930's, as played by Ingrid Bergman in the wonderful 1958 movie The Inn of the Sixth Happiness.)
Celebrating the
20th Anniversary of The Radicals:
The Radicals Tribute Here
