Into Great Silence [2005] Movie Reviews on CinemaClock

I had a very difficult time getting "into" this film -- I understand the desire to make the point about silence, but I felt that the film was very disjointed and the jumping from one aspect of monastery life to another was very disconcerting -- not good seque at all! I did not like just looking at the faces every once in a while -- how did looking at those monks help the viewer realize the point of the film? Having taught cinema and film criticism, I was disappointed in a film I had really anticipated seeing. For such a special occurrence--getting permission to film there--the producers tried too hard to do something different.

Just as pornography movies do not really capture true sex, because sex is ultimately internal and personal between 2 people... So this movie can only go so close to true spirituality because it also is internal and personal between a person and God.

I am shocked at some of the replies that people have given here. I am amazed that people have no concept of what greatness is. These people are contributing to society more profoundly and more generously than most people will ever possibly do. Most of the responses here remind me of Plato's cave analogy.

I am getting less and less religious and had to see this movie to see if I could be resurected to start praying again... alas... I find the monks could be a lot more useful if they help humanity as opposed to praying all day, frankly I would say that praying is a waste of time, unless who are in such a desperate hole and need an imaginary friend to help you go through a horrible period. Religion is for that, to help out when one feels totally rejected and lost but we should be thought other means to get out of the dark, Santa Claus doesn't exist. Otherwise I think that "Do not do to others what you would not want to be done to you" is my kind of religion and I hope one day it will be everybody's religion... If there is a God or Allah or whatever... He or SHE would be happy with all human beings respecting other humans in such a manner. We will evolve eventually into this kind of logic and religion which for centuries has caused bloody wars and created lack of tolerance, will no longer be. When all have the same optic, we shall have peace on earth. Pope, Monks, Priests, Nuns, Rabbis, Imman, etc. will not be needed as all will be kind to each other... in what year, maybe in Year 3000. I was curious to see a movie without a thousand explosions but the contrast was too great for me, and way too much footage and of course lots of longueurs. I must admit though that the first 20 minutes of silence was indeed very relaxing but indeed... it was way too long..

Why should anybody help anyone else? The Darwinists have clearly shown that it is only through the survival of the fittest that there has been any progress on this planet. We see this so vividly when governments or leaders of societies have caused the great wars on this planet in order to make everyone else to conform to their ideas. It is the fittest governments with the fittest ideas that survive. On the other hand, the monks seem to know better than the scientists or governments, and I am glad they are praying to the One that gives everyone a reason to help each other.

10.1.2007 - krasnit@ - age: 50+

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Une amie voudrait bien qu'on aille voir ce film... et j'accepterai probablement à cause du silence en ces temps d'indigestion médiatique - mais entre-temps, je suis tout à fait d'accord avec votre point de vue - quelle perte de temps à honorer tous ces Dieux différents - la religion déresponsabilise son pratiquant alors que la morale le responsabilise - se contenter d'être des êtres "moraux" assurerait bien davantage la paix dans le monde que ces vénérations qui le divisent (mon Dieu est meilleur que le tien, etc. )

20.1.2007 - carmen,lamarche@ - age: 50+

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I am totally sick of the violent movies. Especially the message that goes along with it: "might is right" rules the earth. I do believe that if you spend sometime in silence and honestly pray to God for help and guidance, it will come if you honestly believe in Him or her.

30.1.2007 - amcrontheroad@ - age: 50+

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I respect the order and the spiritual practice by the monks in the monastery, however, the question comes to the mind is why the faces are dark and gloomy. One would expect from those who walk in the path of God to express happiness and joy in their inward appearance. Whereas, the monk looked so tired, existed and unhappy. Could they be a role model to others to follow their path? I am not sure...

Hello Eliza, I think that some, not all, some of the faces are gloomy because hearing God's answer is much, much harder than praying and asking. Most of the older Monks showed Joy, and Contentment (witness the blind one and the dying one at the very end) The Monk's prayer goes through 4 phases: Lectio (divine lecture), Meditatio (medation), Oration (prayer) and Contemplation... and once you have experienced the pure Joy of feeling the Holy Spirit in your soul (contemplatio), not being able to feel it anymore is so, so hard. Feeling you are not worthy of God anymore is Despair... Exhile forever... Surely that is Hell. Therefore the gloominess. The Despair. But remember the face of the middle aged Monks, the serenity. That is one path to follow.

6.1.2007 - helenedemontreal@

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This movie should have lifted heart and mind to God but the director couldn't pull it off. There was so much posibility here to plum the depths and beauty of the monastic vocation, delving into the silence, the natural setting, the prayers the brother chanted, but unfortunatly I found myself disconected with the way the director explored the life. There was a definitive lack of order in the movie, when a monk's life is very ordered. There was too much focus on the ordinary tasks of the brothers without seeing the transcendent quality of a life dedicated to Jesus Christ. Even what should have been some of the most beautiful scenes made little sense the way it was done, such as the procession through the monastery with the blessed sacrament. All it does to the viewer is make them ask "what are they doing now? " The great parts of this movie come through when the brothers interact with each other, converse, and after siolent periods come to chapel to chant and pray. More order, and maybe a couple more interviews with a brother or two would have made this movie much more accessible. As Pope Paul VI said, the cosecrated life is the lungs of the Church. Without it our world would fall into chaos. Exploring this kind of life much further would open up a trendous richness to life for all true seekers of God.

Well, this is the closest you will ever come too leading a monk's life. Enter the daily life of this secluded catholic monastery in the French Alps. For me it is almost a wasted life, but it is freely chosen and I guess it is much better than not having food and shelter at all! Even today, I am still amazed before human stupidity and its infinite manifestations.