A Bright Star at the Stake

This film takes place in Paris and Geneva in the 1530s and 1550s. Kálvin János and Szervét Mihály are school mates in Paris. The university students celebrate the victory of the Reformation with Kálvin's "Institution", written under a pseudonym. When the Inquisition finds Kálvin at his friend's, young Szervét, in order to save Kálvin, takes the crime of the renewal of the faith on himself. After twenty years, Szervét finds himself in front of the Inquisition for his letters written to Kálvin. In these letters, he discards the doctrine of the Divine Trinity and calls for a faith based on science. He seeks asylum at Kálvin in Geneva. During their discussions, Kálvin tries to persuade him to withdraw his theses, but Szervét refuses to do so. Kálvin sends him to the stake to strengthen the power of the Reformation. (official distributor synopsis)