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Into Great Silence
Directed by:
Philip Gröning
Starring: The monks of The Grande Chartreuse monastery
Genre:
Documentary/Foreign
Run Time: 169
min.
Release Date: March
2006
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
INTO GREAT SILENCE
is more a sleep aid than a documentary. I think a more appropriate title
would’ve been Into Great Boredom. Not for the men that chose to
go to the Grand Chartreuse Monastery, but for how long, how slow, and
how incredibly uninteresting this film was.
The only positives are some beautiful shots of the monastery with the
French Alps as a backdrop, and how completely immersed the camera gets
the viewer into the life of solitude and silence that these men
purposely confine themselves.
But that’s it.
Running well over two-and-a-half hours, the film could’ve easily been
cut by half and still held the same level of immersion. Too many
lingering shots on monks kneeling in prayer, monks praying in the dark
(with the red candle of God ever-present), monks walking through
hallways, monks sitting near windows, and just an otherwise tremendous
amount of overly indulgent quiet (from the production standpoint). I
know that the title has the word “silence” in it, and that these men
take a vow as such when they enter the monastery, but I think a bit of
interaction, explanation, or some sort of definitive purpose would’ve
made the film much more enjoyable.
Before I get plowed asunder by those that enjoyed this film, let me make
it clear that I understood the nature of it. The silence. The length of
the film in order to show the dedication one must have to go into the
monastery. The unquestioning loyalty you must have in “the divine
spirit.”
I get it.
It’s just that it’s not
that interesting on film.
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Image from Into Great
Silence
DVD cost: $22.86
Purchase:
Tower.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
In 1984, German filmmaker
Philip Groning wrote to seek permission from the Carthusian order to
make a documentary about them.Sixteen years later they were ready for
him.
Movie Quote: None
Other Actors/Actresses
from Into Great Silence
No Images Available |
