|
| List Price: | $29.99 |
| Amazon Price: | $24.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
| You Save: | $5.00 (17%) |
| Average Rating: |  |
| Lowest New Price: | $17.60 |
| Availablitiy: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
|
 |
|
Product Description
Nestled deep in the postcard-perfect French Alps, the Grande Chartreuse is considered one of the world s most ascetic monasteries. In 1984, German filmmaker Philip Gröning wrote to the Carthusian order for permission to make a documentary about them. They said they would get back to him. Sixteen years later, they were ready. Gröning, sans crew or artificial lighting, lived in the monks quarters for six months filming their daily prayers, tasks, rituals and rare outdoor excursions. This transcendent, closely observed film seeks to embody a monastery, rather than simply depict one it has no score, no voiceover and no archival footage. What remains is stunningly elemental: time, space and light. One of the most mesmerizing and poetic chronicles of spirituality ever created, INTO GREAT SILENCE dissolves the border between screen and audience with a total immersion into the hush of monastic life. More meditation than documentary, it s a rare, transformative experience for all.
DISC ONE, THE FILM:
Breathtaking 16:9 anamorphic transfer, created from Hi-Def elements
U.S. theatrical trailer
Optional English subtitles
DISC TWO, THE EXTRAS:
The Making of Into Great Silence : With behind-the-scenes footage,
location photos and handwritten notes from the monks
Additional scenes, including a segment on the preparation of the
Carthusian s world-famous Chartreuse liqueur
Night Mass
The Carthusian Order : An informative guide to the rules, architecture, and
daily schedules of the monks and the monasteries
Extensive photo, poster, and press kit galleries
And more!
Customers who bought this item also bought
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Be still and know that I am God . . ., 2008-08-21
At 2 hours and 42 minutes, this film attempts to capture the experience of spending a year in the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the mountains near Grenoble in France. In true cinema verite style, there is no voice-over narration or music, and there are long, long takes to capture the rhythm of daily life. Meditative and beautiful, this film will strike some viewers as painfully slow and often less than clear about what they are watching. If that is likely to be a problem, viewers should steer clear of this one.
However, if you are open to thought-provoking images and the opportunity to immerse oneself in the daily routines of a group of men who have chosen a totally different way of life - in particular to live in silence far away from this noisy world - then there's plenty to consider and ponder as a viewer takes the time that the subject warrants. Turn up the volume on your TV and just l-i-s-t-e-n, and you will begin to hear the awesome tranquility of the world that we drown out with our usual nonstop consumption of distractions.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
 Zzzzzz ...hmmm? Did Someone Say Something?, 2008-07-28
INTO GREAT SILENCE is more a sleep aid than a documentary. I think a more appropriate title would've been Into Great Boredom. Not for the men that chose to go to the Grand Chartreuse Monastery, but for how long, how slow, and how incredibly uninteresting this film was.
The only positives are some beautiful shots of the monastery with the French Alps as a backdrop, and how completely immersed the camera gets the viewer into the life of solitude and silence that these men purposely confine themselves.
But that's it.
Running well over two-and-a-half hours, the film could've easily been cut by half and still held the same level of immersion. Too many lingering shots on monks kneeling in prayer, monks praying in the dark (with the red candle of God ever-present), monks walking through hallways, monks sitting near windows, and just an otherwise tremendous amount of overly indulgent quiet (from the production standpoint). I know that the title has the word "silence" in it, and that these men take a vow as such when they enter the monastery, but I think a bit of interaction, explanation, or some sort of definitive purpose would've made the film much more enjoyable.
Before I get plowed asunder by those that enjoyed this film, let me make it clear that I understood the nature of it. The silence. The length of the film in order to show the dedication one must have to go into the monastery. The unquestioning loyalty you must have in "the divine spirit."
I get it.
It's just that it's not that interesting on film.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Silence - the sound of one hand clapping!, 2008-07-27
This is an amazing adventure into the realm of silence. Can one hear or visualize Silence or dare to become Silence? These monks have made this happen and the artist/film/director has captured their living silence in the moments of everyday experience of the celebration of life.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Escape to Reality, 2008-07-27
Now I can see why this has such an impact on those who watched it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Shared Solitude, 2008-06-30
This is a superb documentary for anyone who has sought the path of solitude and silence as a part of their own life. I have watched it a number of times, and never tire of it. I highly recommend it.
The Rev'd Clifford E. Schane, ahc
Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
|
Store Categories
|