Posted on 12/22/2007 3:06:47 PM PST by Lorianne
Nietzsche once trenchantly quipped that “...our modern noisy, time-consuming industriousness, proud of itself, stupidly proud, educates and prepares people more than anything else does, precisely for unbelief.”The truth in that statement is perhaps never more on display than during the Christmas season. Slogans urging us to “keep Christ in Christmas,” or “recall the reason for the season,” sound about as hollow as the Christmas jingles that reverberate in our ears every time we enter a store. Those in search of an antidote might consider watching the newly released DVD Into Great Silence, Philip Groening’s movingly observed study of the daily lives of Carthusian monks at La Grande Chartreuse, founded in the French Alps in 1084.
A prize winner at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, the film has received universal acclaim for its minimalist style, its cinematography and especially its attentiveness to the spiritual dimension of existence to which the Carthusian life aspires.
Given that contemporary entertainment fosters an attention deficit in all of us and that the film makes no effort to provide even the scaffolding of a plot, this is not, initially at least, an easy film to watch. But as it unfolds, the virtue of taking one’s time becomes evident. The virtue is most profoundly captured in one of the texts interspersed through the film: “Behold the silence that allows the Lord to speak a word in us: That He is.”
(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...
I just saw this tonight. It is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen.
I bought a copy at the Pauline Bookstore. The Sisters of St. Paul had also made a small companion book that people can buy as well.
Everyone should see this.
If you are a Catholic definitely see it.
People who see this film are said to feel a sense of peace.
The cinematography is incredible. And only one man, the filmaker, was allowed into the monastery. He was not allowed to alter color or lighting and it is truly beautiful. Some scenes are just like great still life paintings from another time.
The filmaker, Groning, had asked to do this , was denied. The monastery responded finally,15 years later, that they were ready.
In watching it I realized that this is a view into a world that very few have ever seen.
http://www.diegrossestille.de/english/
ping
ping
BTW, I've always loved "Chant" inspirational music.
If you find it ...let me know your opinion.
Will do.
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