Into Great Silence directed by Philip Gröning (2005)
It took German filmmaker Philip Gröning over 21 years to make this documentary. Sixteen of those were spent waiting for the Carthusian Order to agree to his proposal. Two years were spent in preparation and two more years on editing the footage. This patient effort seems appropriate given the subject matter.
This religious order of the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps don’t believe in rushing things. Their life is devoted to rituals of silent prayer and study with the monks renouncing all the trappings of modern life.
The documentary is not intended as a case study about those who choose this austere way of life; Gröning explains : “I wanted this not to be a film about information……you’re not supposed to learn about a monastery, you’re supposed to learn about yourself.” .
The result is poetic movie that gives a heightened sense of the surroundings and the passing seasons that comes when life is so free of distractions.
Philip Gröning
Gröning worked alone , mostly using digital film and available light so the level of disturbance was kept to a minimum. There is no narrative or soundtrack and only one short interview; a sequence in which a blind monk talks about how totally embracing God means that death no longer holds any fear.
The lightest moment comes when the monks are allowed out for an excursion (where they are allowed to speak) and we see them playing in the snow like a bunch of school kids.
This is a film that needs to be seen in the cinema – on DVD three hours, most of which is silent, is tough going. I admit I started to hit the fast forward button half way through; proof that I have neither the faith or self discipline to compete with the Carthusians.
Links:
Article and interview with Philip Gröning (Decent Films Guide)
Home page about the movie (in English)
