Into Great Silence
Posted by Terry Nelson on Dec 17th, 2007
Some of my friends will be happy to know I finally watched the film, Into Great Silence. (Obviously I do not rush out to see films - although I watched it 3 times over the weekend.) It is a gorgeous film, and probably the best review I could offer is silence. Although I must say, the film is exactly what Carthusian life is - and, I might add, I’m rather surprised the monks consented to being filmed so intimately.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I agree.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Did you rent it or buy it? Just wondering if it is able to rent since I have been wanting to see this too.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Monica - I got it off Amazon.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
I’ve known about this film for quite sometime but I’ve neglected purchasing it. That will change in the very near future.
I’m glad these monks consented to being filmed. Gives people an idea of what their life is like and might even foster vocations
Tom
December 17th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
What a coincidence, I just read about this movie at Amazon while searching for something else. I read that the film maker asked if he could film this movie and twelve years later he got his answer!
December 17th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Terry has first hand knowledge of Carthusian Life, kinda.
I didn’t when I saw the movie at a theater last Spring.
I would recommend doing a little Googling of Carthusian life before you view “Into Great Silence.” You will get more out of it.
The big thing that I didn’t understand about their life is that there are two levels of monastics in that monastery.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that the priests are the ones who are totally confined to their hermitage for a life of prayer and contemplation.
The ones who do the gardening, maintenance, cooking, cleaning, etc., are “brothers” who take a different, less strict, set of vows than do the priests.
And if you watch to view gorgeous liturgies, you will discover that those are not found in Carthusian life.
That will make things more clear.
And take a long nap before watching it. There is much silence in the film and many couldn’t resist napping in the theater. You may find that difficult also.
Remember that the contemplatives are praying for you and for me. That will help, also.
December 17th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Ray - You are right. If I knew nothing of Carthusian life I wouldn’t know what to make of the film. However, right from the beginning I recognized the images of the fire in the stove, the sanctuary lamp, and the monk in the alcove.
You are right - the lay-brothers are separate from the fathers - after V-II they began to wear the same habit - except for work - then the denim. The lay brothers do not join in on the father’s Sunday walks either. The brothers have their own chapel as well.
And yes - the liturgy is austere to the senses - lacking the “performance art” element observers of Benedictine monastic chant seem to prefer - yet it is deeply contemplative and solemn - and obviously the monks are praying.
Overall - it’s a good film. I wasn’t pleased with the grainy cinematography, and I thought the breaks were a bit awkward at times.
I also felt the pensive studies of the monks faces were intrusive and rude - due to the duration of the study of each. I wonder if the monks knew the studies would be so long?
Artsy people will not like this, but there should be a DVD version with voice-over explaining the film - like a regular documentary.
Having experienced Carthusian life, I liked the silence, which is the Carthusian vocation. No other monastic tradition can compare, except the ancient desert fathers perhaps.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Well I loved the movie. I did some reading on the Carthusian order prior to seeing it and since then have learned more about them. They are truly a beautiful order or religious. I thank God for the graces they call down upon the earth for the rest of us.
I heard this film was so popular in Europe that some, especially men, were seeing it multiple times and doing the standing and kneeling in the theater with them in prayer. I can only assume that these are the souls longing and searching and found that spark of Divine in this holy and austere life that is so sorely lacking in our secular progressive culture.
May God bless the Carthusian order. Amen+
December 18th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
never deformed, so never reformed. isn’t that right? i love this documentary. i’ve watched it 3 times & own the 2-disc dvd and the “soundtrack.” right now my parish nuns have my copy & can’t wait to get it back so i can watch it again. i need some silence right now.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:16 am
here is a link to some insights from Fr Michael, who was a carthusian for 25 years…he answered questions after the movie was shown in nyc…..it is interesting!
http://www.filmforumnewyork.org/indexarchive.html
December 19th, 2007 at 11:17 am
you will have to scoll down to March 2007