Into Great Silence (Two-Disc Set) | 
 enlarge | Director: Philip Graning
Actor: The Carthusian Order
Studio: Zeitgeist Films
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $24.99
You Save: $5.00 (17%)
New (32) Used (7) from $17.58
Avg. Customer Rating:  89 reviews
Sales Rank: 3089
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Latin (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 162
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 1094
UPC: 795975109437
EAN: 0795975109437
ASIN: B000OYNVOY
Theatrical Release Date: 2005
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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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 Groening 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. Groening, 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!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 84 more reviews...
 Thanksgiving Into Great Silence November 28, 2008
I caught the world television premiere of this film on EWTN not long ago. I'm glad I did. It is the most peaceful film I've ever seen.
"Into Great Silence" is an entrance into the simple life of Carthusian Monks of the Grande Chartreuse Monastery, located in the French Alps. We get a glimpse of what it could be like to spend each day serving God without major distractions. Silent and contemplative with few well-chosen words throughout the film turn everything into a prayerful learning experience of how to do the ordinary with purpose. The filming is aesthetic, reflective, making it easy to ponder dust specks in a sunbeam through a window, time-lapse of the sky above the Monastery, shadow patterns on the floor, water drops and candle light flickering with no artificial light and many more seemingly little things that can allow for a moment to transcend the pressures of our fast-paced lives. And as others have mentioned, the fellowship between the Monks is interesting, I especially liked when they went for a walk in the snow, conversing, laughing and sliding down the slopes, was great fun to see and made me laugh. If you enjoy Gregorian chant, you may appreciate hearing their mystical plainsong.
The serenity within this film is palpable. After watching, I feel gratitude for those called to be Monks and all who give up what the world considers important, to spend their lives continually lifting everyone in prayer to God.
 Profound meditation or mere navel-gazing? November 10, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
What's this? A two-hour-and-forty-one-minute long documentary on an order of monks who have taken a vow of silence - a film almost completely devoid of speech and musical accompaniment and fully devoid of narration? How audacious a concept is that?!
"Into Great Silence" focuses on some Carthusian monks who reside at the Grande Chartreuse Monastery tucked away in a remote corner of the soaring French Alps. With rare exceptions, all we hear for the duration of the movie are natural sounds (birds chirping, water dripping, leaves rustling, feet shuffling, brooks babbling), the tolling of bells, and the signing of Latin hymns. We watch as the monks go through their well-oiled rituals of meditation, prayer and daily chores. With the visuals having to carry so much of the weight of the film, I'm happy to report that the imagery is often quite stunning, resembling nothing less than beautifully composed landscapes and warmly-lit still-lifes brought to sudden life. And, at times, "Into Great Silence" serves as a welcome balm to our aching ears which seem to be under almost constant assault from the cacophony of the modern world.
Yet, just how "great" you'll feel the silence is may depend on whether you view cloistering itself as the ultimate act of piety, devotion and self-denial, or as an act of cowardice and selfishness, giving a person permission to retreat from the harsh realities of life and to relinquish all personal responsibility for making the world a better place in which to live. It may take a special person to be both willing and able to shun so much of the pointless jabbering that consumes our lives on a daily basis, but there's still something to be said for being a part of the one species on the planet that is able to truly engage one another through our speech and words. That seems, somehow, too precious a gift to be traded in so cheaply for a trouble-free life.
"Into Great Silence" is certainly not for all audiences, and it does go on way too long, no doubt about that. Some viewers will find the movie refreshing and therapeutic, while others will be driven out of their skulls with boredom. To be honest, I had a little of both reactions while watching the film. Congratulate yourself on your enlightenment and superhuman patience if you find yourself thoroughly entranced by the experience, but there's no real reason to feel like a Philistine if you don't.
Awesome! November 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was bored with most of TV when I ran across the listing for this movie so I Tivo'd it. I'll leave the eloquence of writing to those who have written the beautiful, long comments. As for me, I'm not Catholic, but this movie drew me in immediately. Not only is this movie so artfully shot, these dedicated-to-God men are praying for the world and each one of us. After I watched it once, I went online and checked out some websites on the Carthusian monks because I wanted to know more. After that I watched it again. And this movie will be my next Amazon purchase; also the book mentioned above. The movie had a profound impact on me in that it made me want to simplify my worldly life. As silent as the movie was, the monk who tended the cats, talked to them and his last comment was, pointing to a particular cat, "He's the boss." And it was so endearing to see the monks on their limited four hour walk where they talked to each other, laughed, and played like children on the slopes. The website really clarified what was going on when the movie didn't explain anything. This movie really touched my heart.
A Contemplative Retreat October 25, 2008
For those who want to experience a documentary about the life of a Carthusian abbey, watch disk 2. For those who want to experience something of the life of a Carthusian abbey itself, watch disk 1. The contemplative life is not for everyone, but more and more people are finding that occasional contemplative retreats help them to re-ground and re-center their lives. For those who cannot go on retreat at an abbey where silence is maintained, this beautiful DVD may be the next-best thing. Whether viewing it in one long sitting or in several shorter ones, try to minimize distractions.
Kinder's book, "Architecture of Silence: Cistercian Abbeys of France," conveys a similar experience in photographs.
Be patient with it and it will pull you in to greater peace October 6, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Being a traditional Catholic, this film appealed to me. But at first when I was watching it I was restless and found it very slow. But when I had a moment to focus on it after the children went to bed, I continued watching it and found myself staying up late to finish it. They are mostly silent, so the film is VERY quiet, but it follows their lives. It makes you realize how everything we do is to the Glory of God, and you can see that these monks do EVERYTHING slowly, neatly and well done. All is done for Christ, they do not worry about anything, they do not fear anything. They just live their lives for Christ and that is it. You walk away from it peaceful and a bit more focused, and with a
realization of how fearful we are even when we didn't realize it. This is one that I will be watching again and again. It's like reading a spiritual book, you gain so much from reading it the first time, but you desire to go back to it again and again and pull more out of it.
If you watch it, STICK WITH IT, past thinking it's boring, past the tediousness of it, and I would venture to guess you will be really pulled into it as well and learn some wonderful things from these wonderful monks.
It's appropriate for the entire family, naturally, no issues as a parent that I could think of.
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