2005, France/Switzerland/Germany
Documentary, Drama
There are movies that quicken the pulse and others that stop it cold. This documentary slows the heartbeat to a peaceful, meditative state.
As I rushed to the theatre after working late, I stopped at a fast food joint with just enough time to cram dinner down my gullet in eight minutes flat. That gave me exactly one minute to race to the other end of the parking lot, buy my ticket and find a seat just as the film began. Needless to say, I did not begin with the proper mindset for a contemplative film about the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps.
Director Philip Gröning was patient enough to wait 17 years for permission to film the reclusive Carthusian monks and spent five months capturing their every movement. Their daily routines are reflected in his filming style, as the audience is slowly allowed into an understanding of this lifestyle. Actions and sounds that are initially blurry and distant become clearer each time the camera returns to a sequence and captures a wider frame of action.
Barely a word is spoken, and close-ups of praying monks imply a desire to hear internal reflections. My own thoughts sounded too loud as I scribbled notes, unreasonably attempting to decipher the simple serenity unfolding before me. The busy pace of the modern world prevented some audience members from sitting still for the almost three-hour-long film, and they wasted this rare chance for repose.
Occasionally, an observant camera becomes distracted from the religious focus that is key to solitary communication with a greater being. As the monks pray, not only is attention given to their ceremonial movements but also to small things within the room and the food awaiting them. Much like a curious child, the camera inquires about life beyond meditation. As the film progresses, it incorporates the repetitive nature of the rituals and begins to teach the audience what it has learned.
The same scriptures are presented in slow rotation, emphasizing selflessness and devotion (“Anyone who does not give up all he has cannot be my disciple,” Luke 14:33). These words that the men pour over in their studies perfectly reflect the example set by this Catholic Order, but they are not mindless worshipers. Initially their dedicated silence may seem monotonous, but their personalities sneak onto the screen through smirks towards the camera and enlivened discussions during outdoor excursions. A moment of pure joy is witnessed in the final minutes of the film -- a treat for those who have slowed down their personal rhythms long enough to appreciate this rare documentation to the end.
This film provides no history or religious debate. Music exists only through sacred chants and action within the plot is minimal. But this documentary beautifully captures life unhindered by stress, secure in a cycle that comes full circle and creates renewal in spirit. I left the theatre feeling peaceful, quiet and appreciative of an existence unrushed by a hurried world.