May 15th
Into Great Silence***
(Review by John Sales)
Ipswich Film Theatre. Certificate U.
A profoundly moving documentary detailing life in the 'Grand Chartreuse' monastery in Grenoble. We are taken through a typical year in the lives of the cloistered monks of the Carthusian order. Reflecting the title, there is no musical soundtrack as such, just the timeless beauty of Gregorian chant used for the Divine Office. All nine 'hours' are covered, from Matins to Compline, which is followed by solemn Benediction.
The film illustrates perfectly the solitude and asceticism of the monks' life, closing with the thoughts of a blind, aged member of the order, who renders his moving thoughts on death, and how it holds no fears for him. In summary, a touching presentation, giving a lucid insight into mortals striving, by means of their austere rule, to follow in the steps of their Creator, seeing His works in the natural habitat and stunning scenery all around them.
Into Great Silence***
(Review by John Sales)
Ipswich Film Theatre. Certificate U.
A profoundly moving documentary detailing life in the 'Grand Chartreuse' monastery in Grenoble. We are taken through a typical year in the lives of the cloistered monks of the Carthusian order. Reflecting the title, there is no musical soundtrack as such, just the timeless beauty of Gregorian chant used for the Divine Office. All nine 'hours' are covered, from Matins to Compline, which is followed by solemn Benediction.
The film illustrates perfectly the solitude and asceticism of the monks' life, closing with the thoughts of a blind, aged member of the order, who renders his moving thoughts on death, and how it holds no fears for him. In summary, a touching presentation, giving a lucid insight into mortals striving, by means of their austere rule, to follow in the steps of their Creator, seeing His works in the natural habitat and stunning scenery all around them.
Labels: Documentary
posted by Joe at 8:32 PM
1 Comments:
I found it a profoundly observed documentary filming, constrained inevitably out of reverence for the order. Proficiently filmed (the 162 minutes might be a long haul for agnostics), although to be faithful to the order the director should have appeared on camera as well.
There were other unexpected visual and spiritual delights however, including one scene with the monks relaxing themselves by sliding down the mountains!
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