Into Great Silence

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LaMar

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Have any of you fine people seen this film? I’d be interested in discussing it.

I got it last weekend. I loved it. I came away from the movie with a much better understanding of the monastic experience, and what it means to Catholics.

zeitgeistfilms.com/film.php?directoryname=intogreatsilence
Nestled deep in the postcard-perfect French Alps, the Grande Chartreuse is considered one of the world’s most ascetic monasteries. In 1984, German filmmaker Philip Gröning wrote to the Carthusian order for permission to make a documentary about them. They said they would get back to him. Sixteen years later, they were ready. Gröning, sans crew or artificial lighting, lived in the monks’ quarters for six months—filming their daily prayers, tasks, rituals and rare outdoor excursions. This transcendent, closely observed film seeks to embody a monastery, rather than simply depict one—it has no score, no voiceover and no archival footage. What remains is stunningly elemental: time, space and light. One of the most mesmerizing and poetic chronicles of spirituality ever created, INTO GREAT SILENCE dissolves the border between screen and audience with a total immersion into the hush of monastic life. More meditation than documentary, it’s a rare, transformative theatrical experience for all.
 
I am going to look into it. Looks cool. Where did you get it?
 
You can also instant watch( online) it on Netflix. I started watching it but it was right around naptime and I was all cozy and quiet and well…:sleep:

I do want to watch it though.
 
My priest gave me a DVD of it to watch, so I’ll watch it and let you know.
 
It was brilliant. I watched it in a theatre and it was really more of a spiritual experience than a movie. Took a bit of time to get into the rhythm of the film, and of the monastic live, but after that, time flew. It is a very long movie, and was over before I knew it.
 
I heard it is good. I should check it out. I have a netflix account.
 
My daughter and I went to see it when it came to Charlotte. We loved it and I now have a copy of it which she gave to me for Christmas.

My spiritual director, who spent some months with the Carthusians in Vermont, saw most of it as very accurate to the life he experienced there. If you remember the posture of the monks while at Mass (lying on the floor with one arm stretched out), that posture represents the Apostles reclining at table with the Lord. It was beautiful to see the rigor of their life and the peace and joy with which they live it - including fun in the snow. 🙂
 
I’ve been dying to see it since I first heard about it more than two years ago. Thanks for the link. I just purchased the DVD. I have heard good things about it from both Christians and secularists.
 
I have the DVD but I haven’t been able to watch it all the way through yet. I have a newborn and a 4 year old. It isn’t the best movie to watch when they are awake since it defeats the idea of silence. When they both sleep, it is real hard to stay awake watching ANY movie, let alone one like this. I think I have made it about 80% of the way through and it is a great movie for getting an idea of what life is like in a silent monastery.
 
It’s as much a meditation as a movie. I loved it and by the time I walked out of the theater I felt like I had been praying along with the monks. It definitely didn’t strike everyone that way though. The woman sitting next to me fell asleep and when she woke up she left.

Not sure why this is in Non-Catholic Religions. The Carthusians are definitely a Catholic religious order.
 
The OP is a NOM (liberal) Mormon. He may not feel comfortable posting in other areas.
 
Ive got it on dvd, and Ive seen the film, but not the special features yet. Its a two dvd set.

I enjoyed it, but it is a type of movie that you’d probably only wanna see once. I found myself really absorbing the film, and you sort of get attached to a couple of the regulars shown.

The film has hardly any dialogue, besides the prayers and at the end. Its a film in which you should sit down without any distractions. I’m glad I stumbled upon the dvd, because although I heard about the film, I don’t think I ever planned on seeing it.

Also, unless your child is really into the faith, I think they might lose interest after a while because it is fairly long. However, if you watch it you will really walk away with a better idea about monastic life.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
It’s as much a meditation as a movie. I loved it and by the time I walked out of the theater I felt like I had been praying along with the monks. It definitely didn’t strike everyone that way though. The woman sitting next to me fell asleep and when she woke up she left.

Not sure why this is in Non-Catholic Religions. The Carthusians are definitely a Catholic religious order.
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People who are not familiar with Catholicism (I’m only now becoming familiar with the variety of religious experience you guys have evolved over the past 2000 years) will do well to see this movie. I have never understood the phenomenon and the film gave me great insights. I hope others who are curious will give it a gander also.

For the person who brought it up, I liked seeing these guys sliding down the snowy hillside also. It was a great shot and probably one of my favorites in the movie.
 
On a side note, I was wondering if anyone has had similar feeling to me when thinking about those in the monastic life:

When I think about monks like those shown in the film, I feel a sense of pride that I am of the same faith as them, because they have sacrificed a lot, and I also see their lives as being pretty cool in way. :cool: Especially seeing them meditatively walking around in their garb with the hood over their head. There’s something about them really distinguishes them from the rest of society, besides the obvious things. I don’t know, I can’t really express my thoughts as I would like.

But at the same time, I kind of feel sad for them because of their sacrifices and because of the seemingly depressive, and often lonely, conditions they live in.

So I guess, seeing the film, and thinking about the monks brings out in me a sense of pride, a sense of intrigue, and I can see the dignity the vocation has throughout the time of Christianity. But at the same time I feel also sadness (or a depressive feeling) when think about them because of the way they live too.

My opinion is that they have put a lot of faith in their belief in the Catholic faith to make such sacrifice, but they have such a reward to look forward to from God if they remain devoted.
 
LaMar said:
For the person who brought it up, I liked seeing these guys sliding down the snowy hillside also. It was a great shot and probably one of my favorites in the movie.
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That was a highlight I never expected. Its like they live such supressed lives that when they do laugh you can see such genuineness.

Unlike us in normal society. How often have I laughed at others or laughed at stupid or offensive things? Heaps.
 
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