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Into Great Silence (Two-Disc Set)
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Average Rating:  out of 88 Reviews
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Price: $29.99
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Sale: $17.58
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Manufacturer: Zeitgeist Films
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UPC (Universal Product Code): 795975109437
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EAN (European Article Number): 0795975109437
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Number of Items: 2
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Binding: DVD
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Publisher: Zeitgeist Films
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Description: 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 experience for all.
DISC ONE, THE FILM:
Breathtaking 16:9 anamorphic transfer, created from Hi-Def elements
U.S. theatrical trailer
Optional English subtitles
DISC TWO, THE EXTRAS:
The Making of Into Great Silence : With behind-the-scenes footage,
location photos and handwritten notes from the monks
Additional scenes, including a segment on the preparation of the
Carthusian s world-famous Chartreuse liqueur
Night Mass
The Carthusian Order : An informative guide to the rules, architecture, and
daily schedules of the monks and the monasteries
Extensive photo, poster, and press kit galleries
And more!
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: Profound meditation or mere navel-gazing? |
Date: 2008-11-10 |
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Details: What's this? A two-hour-and-forty-one-minute long documentary on an order of monks who have taken a vow of silence - a film almost completely devoid of speech and musical accompaniment and fully devoid of narration? How audacious a concept is that?!
"Into Great Silence" focuses on some Carthusian monks who reside at the Grande Chartreuse Monastery tucked away in a remote corner of the soaring French Alps. With rare exceptions, all we hear for the duration of the movie are natural sounds (birds chirping, water dripping, leaves rustling, feet shuffling, brooks babbling), the tolling of bells, and the signing of Latin hymns. We watch as the monks go through their well-oiled rituals of meditation, prayer and daily chores. With the visuals having to carry so much of the weight of the film, I'm happy to report that the imagery is often quite stunning, resembling nothing less than beautifully composed landscapes and warmly-lit still-lifes brought to sudden life. And, at times, "Into Great Silence" serves as a welcome balm to our aching ears which seem to be under almost constant assault from the cacophony of the modern world.
Yet, just how "great" you'll feel the silence is may depend on whether you view cloistering itself as the ultimate act of piety, devotion and self-denial, or as an act of cowardice and selfishness, giving a person permission to retreat from the harsh realities of life and to relinquish all personal responsibility for making the world a better place in which to live. It may take a special person to be both willing and able to shun so much of the pointless jabbering that consumes our lives on a daily basis, but there's still something to be said for being a part of the one species on the planet that is able to truly engage one another through our speech and words. That seems, somehow, too precious a gift to be traded in so cheaply for a trouble-free life.
"Into Great Silence" is certainly not for all audiences, and it does go on way too long, no doubt about that. Some viewers will find the movie refreshing and therapeutic, while others will be driven out of their skulls with boredom. To be honest, I had a little of both reactions while watching the film. Congratulate yourself on your enlightenment and superhuman patience if you find yourself thoroughly entranced by the experience, but there's no real reason to feel like a Philistine if you don't. |
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Review Summary: Awesome! |
Date: 2008-11-02 |
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Details: I was bored with most of TV when I ran across the listing for this movie so I Tivo'd it. I'll leave the eloquence of writing to those who have written the beautiful, long comments. As for me, I'm not Catholic, but this movie drew me in immediately. Not only is this movie so artfully shot, these dedicated-to-God men are praying for the world and each one of us. After I watched it once, I went online and checked out some websites on the Carthusian monks because I wanted to know more. After that I watched it again. And this movie will be my next Amazon purchase; also the book mentioned above. The movie had a profound impact on me in that it made me want to simplify my worldly life. As silent as the movie was, the monk who tended the cats, talked to them and his last comment was, pointing to a particular cat, "He's the boss." And it was so endearing to see the monks on their limited four hour walk where they talked to each other, laughed, and played like children on the slopes. The website really clarified what was going on when the movie didn't explain anything. This movie really touched my heart. |
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Review Summary: A Contemplative Retreat |
Date: 2008-10-25 |
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Details: For those who want to experience a documentary about the life of a Carthusian abbey, watch disk 2. For those who want to experience something of the life of a Carthusian abbey itself, watch disk 1. The contemplative life is not for everyone, but more and more people are finding that occasional contemplative retreats help them to re-ground and re-center their lives. For those who cannot go on retreat at an abbey where silence is maintained, this beautiful DVD may be the next-best thing. Whether viewing it in one long sitting or in several shorter ones, try to minimize distractions.
Kinder's book, "Architecture of Silence: Cistercian Abbeys of France," conveys a similar experience in photographs. |
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Review Summary: Be patient with it and it will pull you in to greater peace |
Date: 2008-10-06 |
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Details: Being a traditional Catholic, this film appealed to me. But at first when I was watching it I was restless and found it very slow. But when I had a moment to focus on it after the children went to bed, I continued watching it and found myself staying up late to finish it. They are mostly silent, so the film is VERY quiet, but it follows their lives. It makes you realize how everything we do is to the Glory of God, and you can see that these monks do EVERYTHING slowly, neatly and well done. All is done for Christ, they do not worry about anything, they do not fear anything. They just live their lives for Christ and that is it. You walk away from it peaceful and a bit more focused, and with a
realization of how fearful we are even when we didn't realize it. This is one that I will be watching again and again. It's like reading a spiritual book, you gain so much from reading it the first time, but you desire to go back to it again and again and pull more out of it.
If you watch it, STICK WITH IT, past thinking it's boring, past the tediousness of it, and I would venture to guess you will be really pulled into it as well and learn some wonderful things from these wonderful monks.
It's appropriate for the entire family, naturally, no issues as a parent that I could think of.
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Review Summary: A Beautiful Film |
Date: 2008-09-24 |
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Details: For anyone who has ever wondered what life is like inside the strictest of all Catholic religious orders, this film gives the ultimate insight. No other director could have done better with the limited resources at-hand.
For those of us who are accustomed to modern life, with all its noise and contact with other people, along with the flood of information and news we are bombarded with every waking minute, this film goes into the little-known world of men who have turned their backs on all of this and gone into cloister. Rather than working to pay bills, juggling a career and raising a family, these men devote their lives to serving God. Their life's purpose upon entering the monastic life of the Carthusian Order is to seek their own salvation and to pray for the salvation of the world. What higher calling could anyone aspire to and live with?
Although I am not Catholic, I did enjoy this film. Even without modern lighting, background music or dialogue (all the things we take for granted in films today) "Into Great Silence" is still a spell-binding movie to watch and admire the singular dedication of the Carthusians.
As far as who should see this film and who should not:
Shoulds: people interested in monastic life, either seeking to enter it or are studying it. I don't think you need to be Catholic to appreciate it.
Should Nots: people used to lots of noise in their movies. Lots of music, dialogue and special effects. The inclusion of these things - indeed, the overdoing of their additions - have become so much a part of modern films that storlines are left to suffer.
The only thing that I feel is missing is something of an explanation from the monks as to why they chose to join the Carthusian Order, the strictest monastic order in the Catholic Church. With all the order the Church has - Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, etc - what led them to join the Carthusians?
I guess that is one part of life within the charterhouses we will never have access to, being the innermost thoughts of the monks themselves. |
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