Skip to main content

Deep Dive: Into Great Silence (2005)

Play Trailer

Film Lens

Into Great Silence
Into Great Silence is a documentary directed by Philip Gröning that captures the daily lives of Carthusian monks at the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps. The film presents an intimate view of monastic life, emphasizing silence, repetition, and the rhythm of daily routines. Gröning lived at the monastery for six months, filming without artificial light and without spoken commentary, allowing the natural sounds and images to convey the essence of the monks' existence. The film's editing took two-and-a-half years, resulting in a final cut that includes intertitles featuring selections from Holy Scripture. This approach creates a meditative atmosphere, inviting viewers to reflect on the themes of time and silence as experienced by the monks. The absence of narration and sound effects enhances the authenticity of the portrayal, making it a unique cinematic experience.

Why Watch

  • •See the daily life of Carthusian monks in the French Alps.
  • •Meet Philip Gröning, who lived at the monastery for six months.
  • •Find out why the Carthusian monks loved this film.

Did You Know

•Philip Gröning proposed the film idea to the monks in 1984.
•The monks responded 16 years later, in 2000, to allow filming.
•Gröning lived in the monastery for six months during 2002 and 2003.
•The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Festival.

Perfect For

Monastic lifeSilent filmsReligious studies