JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Into Great Silence (2005) - A FilmInk Review
A FilmInk Cinema Review by John Doe
This review appears in the May 2007 issue of FilmInk. Available at newsagent’s NOW.
Regular visitors to the site will know that I freelance for FilmInk magazine. The new issue is on the shelves and for the first time in a couple of months one of my reviews was published. So as a bit of self promotion I will publish the review here. As always, hope you enjoy it.
Title: Into Great Silence
Rating: G
Time: 164 minutes
Country: Germany/France
Director: Philip Groning
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Worth: $11.00
Released:March 10
In the 12th century a strict wing of the catholic religion called the Carthusian Order was established. Isolated in the vast landscape of the French Alps, the house of the Grand Chartreuse is still shrouded in mystery, and it took the makers of this documentary over four years to gain access to this architectural enigma.
Director Philip Groning’s Into Great Silence puts us into a quiet and almost alien environment. Silence, repetition and rhythm are the foundation for the life of the Carthusian Monks and for this film. Don’t look for a narrator to guide you on the journey, or for clever sound design to keep your attention, this is a solemn meditation on life in servitude.
Carefully shot, a picture tells a thousand words and as solitude and stillness seep from the screen you are transported into a world where time has no meaning. Blurred and obscure colours come into focus as pixels, like grains of sand join to form an image, using darkness and light to stimulate the senses, time seems to stand still.
Self disciplined, under a vow of silence, a passing plane remind us we are in modern times, seeing a member writing with a ball point pen behind the walls almost seems like an out place technology.
Into Great Silence is a mood piece, and ultimately a paean to the power of silence, as we follow the dedicated monks on their daily routine. While watching the endless routine of bible studies, chores and meditation, the gentle nature of the order and its ability to let members escape hectic 21st century life becomes clear.
With it’s obviously lugubrious pacing, some will find the documentary a cure for insomnia; others may well see the face of god in this spiritually enlightened film.
Now Showing in selected cinemas.
Below you can soak up a trailer for the film that offers further insight into the type of cinematic experience "Into Great Silence" offers.
This review appears in the May 2007 issue of FilmInk. Available at newsagent’s NOW.
Regular visitors to the site will know that I freelance for FilmInk magazine. The new issue is on the shelves and for the first time in a couple of months one of my reviews was published. So as a bit of self promotion I will publish the review here. As always, hope you enjoy it.
Cinema Poster: Now Playing in Australia
Rating: G
Time: 164 minutes
Country: Germany/France
Director: Philip Groning
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Worth: $11.00
Released:March 10
In the 12th century a strict wing of the catholic religion called the Carthusian Order was established. Isolated in the vast landscape of the French Alps, the house of the Grand Chartreuse is still shrouded in mystery, and it took the makers of this documentary over four years to gain access to this architectural enigma.
Director Philip Groning’s Into Great Silence puts us into a quiet and almost alien environment. Silence, repetition and rhythm are the foundation for the life of the Carthusian Monks and for this film. Don’t look for a narrator to guide you on the journey, or for clever sound design to keep your attention, this is a solemn meditation on life in servitude.
Remember to breath.
Self disciplined, under a vow of silence, a passing plane remind us we are in modern times, seeing a member writing with a ball point pen behind the walls almost seems like an out place technology.
Into Great Silence is a mood piece, and ultimately a paean to the power of silence, as we follow the dedicated monks on their daily routine. While watching the endless routine of bible studies, chores and meditation, the gentle nature of the order and its ability to let members escape hectic 21st century life becomes clear.
With it’s obviously lugubrious pacing, some will find the documentary a cure for insomnia; others may well see the face of god in this spiritually enlightened film.
Now Showing in selected cinemas.
Below you can soak up a trailer for the film that offers further insight into the type of cinematic experience "Into Great Silence" offers.
The Tube Blog
This is a magnificently written review.
I haven't seen the film, but your words come as close to evoking visual images as I believe you can get in a review.
Well done. Brilliant work. Keep it up.
No wonder they picked this one to publish...
Film & TV on DVD
Thanks so much for the kind words, appreciate it.
Filmink generally publish everything I write, but there has been a lull between me seeing the films and their release....I was sent to see this one about 3 months ago and its taken till now for a release
I also have a Fast Food Nation DVD review published in Empire this month if your interested its on news stands now.