An Eternal Prayer

Last updated on: March 21, 2007 at 12:09 am by J. Ryan Parker

An Eternal Prayer 2007-03-21T00:09:15-07:00 J. Ryan Parker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In 1984, German filmmaker Philip Groning wrote to La Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps to get permission to make a documentary of the Carthusian monks there. Sixteen years later, they contacted him and told him they were ready. Groning shot for six months without a crew or any artificial lighting, and the result is Into Great Silence, a two hour and forty minute documentary of almost pure silence.

Into Great Silence is not a typical documentary. Groning does not ask why these men choose such an aescetic lifestyle nor does he give a detailed account of their day-to-day activities. Instead, he creates a film that is just as “simple” as the life these monks lead, placing and, at almost three hours long, perhaps forcing, the audience into their routine. However, Groning’s choice of camera placement and angles also allows for the necessary respectful distance of such an “intrusion.” The silence is infrequently broken by the monks’ chants, their occasional conversations with one another, and a brief interview with one of the older monks who happens to be blind. The breathtaking images of the French Alps and the surrounding environs, the beautiful, naturally lit monastery, and the monks’ peaceful prayer times are broken up with intertitles, the most frequently used being Jesus’ assertion that unless a man give up everything he cannot by my disciple and the phrase “the Lord seduced me, and I was seduced.”

Given the nature of this documentary, Groning does not force the audience to ask why these men choose the monastic lifestyle nor does he force us to consider making such a momentous decision. It does, however, encourage us to pause and reflect on our own lives and how they too might be an “eternal prayer.” This is no simple “stop and smell the roses” encouragement either. The contemplative life has often drawn criticism throughout history for the distance it places between the monastic and the rest of the world. However, such criticism also depends on one’s view of the interconnectedness of humanity. Just how close are we to one another? We are often quick to bemoan the harm that we do to the environment and one another, willingly or unwillingly; however, are we willing to imagine that the good works we do, and even our prayers, can have positive effects in the world as well?

Into Great Silence is a documentary, but it is also an art film and, as such, is not for the restless viewer. Watching this film requires something akin to spiritual and mental preparation. It offers a quiet space for reflection and meditation during the film rather than afterwards. The film should encourage us all to be more contemplative in our daily lives and to be mindful of those who choose this lifestyle and to be encouraged by their prayers for a broken and hurting world.

Film

Previous Post

March 15, 2007

Mind Games

Next Post

March 21, 2007 An Imaginative Path to Forgiveness

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Classics DVD Film Music News Pop Culture Events Print Sports Television Uncategorized Video Games

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I cleansed the temple in sixteen days and celebrated Passover so joyfully that we extended it another seven days. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Asa Josiah Hezekiah Jehoshaphat