What a pleasant surprise to find such interesting comments about "Into Great Silence" ("Die Grosse Stille") on this site. Both those who value the film and those others who aren't impressed by it have contributed worthwhile and valuable comments.
Before I make some observations of my own I would like to recommend to those who intend to see this film that they see the film when fully alert - no heavy, drowse-inducing meal or drink; make sure your toilet needs are taken care of; etc. There were times during the film when I felt that catching 20 winks would do me more good than watching every frame of this slow film - but that's because I was tired and had had a huge meal only a few hours before. So, be prepared.
Concerning the desire to take a little nap during the film, even though I am not a religious person at all - but still know quite a bit about Catholicism - I had to recall Christ's admonishing Peter for not being able to stay awake with him in the Garden of Gethsemani. Watching those monks praying in the film I could only wonder how they could do it for a lifetime while I had to struggle to stay awake for only a couple of hours. It made me chuckle at how appropriate the comparison was. It also made me grin as I tried to figure out whether any particular monk was praying - or dozing.
As numerous reviewers here have noted, the film is almost a collection of stills (no pun intended), but stills which nevertheless have meaning, such as in a painting. For example, if you do not know that the candle in the small red glass holder hanging above the altar is the traditional way of indicating the presence in that place of the Holy Eucharist (for Catholics, the actual body of Christ) you won't understand why the film maker shows so many shots of it, even when it's flickering in the distance. Likewise, seeing a monk's cell if fine, but if you want to know more about it - and many other things, too - you might first want to read a book such as Nancy Klein Maguire's "AN INFINITY OF LITTLE HOURS", or visit the links on her web site, which provide many facts about the Carthusian way of life (including the petty problems that are blown up out of all proportion when such a small group of men live in such close proximity to each other.) It also may be that most viewers would not be aware that the film depicts not only the monk priests, but also the non-ordained working brothers - some of whom take vows, others of whom do not - who perform the monastery's manual labor.
Ultimately, though, I kept coming back to the question of whether or not such a strict monastic life was worth it; whether giving up the world in order to live in a cell and meditate and pray was anything other than the waste of a life. What if they are wrong about God?
I certainly recommend the film. See it when you're rested and wide awake.
Before I make some observations of my own I would like to recommend to those who intend to see this film that they see the film when fully alert - no heavy, drowse-inducing meal or drink; make sure your toilet needs are taken care of; etc. There were times during the film when I felt that catching 20 winks would do me more good than watching every frame of this slow film - but that's because I was tired and had had a huge meal only a few hours before. So, be prepared.
Concerning the desire to take a little nap during the film, even though I am not a religious person at all - but still know quite a bit about Catholicism - I had to recall Christ's admonishing Peter for not being able to stay awake with him in the Garden of Gethsemani. Watching those monks praying in the film I could only wonder how they could do it for a lifetime while I had to struggle to stay awake for only a couple of hours. It made me chuckle at how appropriate the comparison was. It also made me grin as I tried to figure out whether any particular monk was praying - or dozing.
As numerous reviewers here have noted, the film is almost a collection of stills (no pun intended), but stills which nevertheless have meaning, such as in a painting. For example, if you do not know that the candle in the small red glass holder hanging above the altar is the traditional way of indicating the presence in that place of the Holy Eucharist (for Catholics, the actual body of Christ) you won't understand why the film maker shows so many shots of it, even when it's flickering in the distance. Likewise, seeing a monk's cell if fine, but if you want to know more about it - and many other things, too - you might first want to read a book such as Nancy Klein Maguire's "AN INFINITY OF LITTLE HOURS", or visit the links on her web site, which provide many facts about the Carthusian way of life (including the petty problems that are blown up out of all proportion when such a small group of men live in such close proximity to each other.) It also may be that most viewers would not be aware that the film depicts not only the monk priests, but also the non-ordained working brothers - some of whom take vows, others of whom do not - who perform the monastery's manual labor.
Ultimately, though, I kept coming back to the question of whether or not such a strict monastic life was worth it; whether giving up the world in order to live in a cell and meditate and pray was anything other than the waste of a life. What if they are wrong about God?
I certainly recommend the film. See it when you're rested and wide awake.