Customer Reviews
Journey Home 
2008-05-08
We have strayed far from our spiritual home because of our culture and our distractions and pressures of everyday life. This wonderful piece of visual and spiritual work brings one back to the basics of conversation, contemplation with the one true God. How far we have strayed from our path, but this film shows that we can return and shows us how.
I must be missing something... 
2008-04-28
As a meditation experience, the DVD might be great. The footage is lovely, the colors muted and luminescent, the monks serene and focused. However, I found the individual sequences far too long. Many of the scenes amounted to not much more than prolonged still shots. And I mean prolonged! After I'd watched a candle flame burn for about five minutes nonstop, I wondered if something was wrong with my DVD player.
This glimpse of life inside a French monastery was interesting, but not interesting enough to engage my mind and imagination for the 2+ hours it lasted. The sequence of the monks chanting was so boring as to strain credibility. The audio was lovely, but the video consisted entirely of many minutes of filmed sheet music annotated in Latin. It seemed to go on forever.
Cut to about one-fourth its present length, the film would have been a great documentary in my opinion. As it was, I couldn't endure the whole thing.
Pure beauty 2008-04-28
By this DVD and it will help you understand the importance of silence in worshipping God.
The Silence 2008-04-22
I lived in a monastery and I have lived the silence. This film is exactly what I lived. It's a great film that shows the daily life of a monk and the spirit of a monastery. I recommend the film for all people, believers or not, because is a great experience and a great movie. You can see the incredible work of the filming team, living with the monks in complete silence, following them with the camera all day and all night. The DVD is amazing because you can see very interesting deleted scenes like one in which they explain how the monks make their liquor and a lot of extras about the history of the order. I give the film a 10.
Silence is key 2008-04-21
This is a great movie. I could't take my eyes off the screen!... I love their "winter adventure"..... they show what it means to be "children of God"
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
Taking the Kingdom of Heaven by storm trooper 
2008-06-29
Self sacrifice, literally. One of the most depressing experiences you will ever have reading a book.
Lord you have seduced me, and I have been seduced 2008-06-05
I chose the verse from film for the title of my review because I think it perfectly captures what the film is about: the love affair,almost a romance between God and these monks, so beautiful to watch. I found this film to be very powerful emotionally and spiritually. At the beginning of the film the silence seems to be a void, and I could see how some found this part boring. As the film progresses one begins to notice background noises- the sound of scissors, the sound of a cane tapping,etc. By the end of the film the silence is almost deafening not only with background noises but also with emotional and spiritual impact. I was profoundly struck by the apparent serenity and intense prayerfullness of these monks. This is not a film for everyone, and I don't think you could say this is an "entertaining" film in the popular sense. It is a long film and if one is not interested in the deeper message one might become distracted or lose interest. HOwever if one takes this film as I think it was meant to be taken, in prayerful reflection it is definitely worth the time and money.
Most important message of both disks: The monks break their silence to plea for PEACE IN IRAQ 2008-06-01
I found the main feature rather disjointed, unlike the precisely scheduled monastic day. Sudden interjections of cattle roaming the cloister, obsessive following of the "lay brothers" who do the work of the monastery such as planting carrots under snow and a rather disturbing and poignant episode of cat feeding, the continual and obscene invasion of the solitude of the hermitage cells with the monk in profound prayer. etc., simply did not work for me. I found the effort to follow one new monk's adapting to monastic life interesting, but for the better part the editting seemed rather unfocussed and not reflective as well as it might of the monastic day and liturgical year.
Certainly nevertheless this project would be impossible. The only way to realize it would be to take the entire audience for one year into the monastic cloister, like something out of A&E Biography: Andy Kaufman's performance pieces or theatre described in My Dinner with Andre and what a chaotic disruption that would pose for all involved! (What, no popcorn?) Might that be a good thing?
In any case, what I found most true, most satisfying, most real, lay in the second disk, in the presentation of the Night Office (not Night Mass as erroneously described on this amazon page). Play this every night after midnight, and you will find what the most recent one star review did not. This is the most authentic section, and that which least violates the monks and the monastery. Watch this only is you can. This is the central essence of their life, of all life, the praying and meditation of the Psalms and ancient Nocturnal readings. This is The Institutes and 57. John Cassian: The Conferences (Ancient Christian Writers) in action still. This is the living The Rule of Saint Benedict breathing 1500 years later.
Why in the main film must we watch the scene in which an ancient elderly monk receives ointment for his dried wrinkled and mortified flesh, thinned by decades of fasting and prayer, covered ever with clothe from the healing sun and air, ever hidden under the holy habit of the monk, ever hidden in the cell of private prayer, in the solitary hermitage. Why must we see this? It is truly an offense to expose this good man in this way to our ridicule and humiliation, like the suffering servant of Isaiah. Let us not lack reverence and respect for this brave and life long monk, please. We need not see his mortified flesh, but only his great and courageous spiritual combat on our behalf.
And also in the extras, in the section of documentation, the monks speak to us now, to our world, in concert and unity with Our Holy Father and His request for prayers for this intention. The silent monks break silence for us; directly, the good and holy monks call to action those of us responsible and able to act, as we see written prayer intentions urging "Peace in Iraq." and an immediate end to that, A Stupid, Unjust, and Criminal War: Iraq, 2001-2007, a false and evil Crusade: Chronicles of an Unjust War (American Empire Project). This alone is essential viewing for our lost and unholy and confused age. Love thy enemy.
PAX TECUM.
An Interesting View 2008-05-18
I bought this video because I was so very curious about this monastic life I am very interested in. This video gave me a glimpse of what life is like, the commitment for those choosing to undertake this path. I found the beauty of the place and the beauty of the silence very revealing. I was a little surprised by the seeming appearance of the seekers being , what appeared to be, locked into their cells and the food and sheets and such are brought to them. YOu really have to learn to be comfortable with yourself. But I also like how it showsed they are all real men and intereacted with each other as well. The personalities vary greatly as well.
I would love to see a video like this on the Benedictines or Franciscan nuns! If anyone knows of any - let me know.
I found this an inspiring look at a special and sacred way of life. It isn't all done up and frilly - like some videos. I think they could have, but seeing it in real sound, real life and real time makes one realize and appreciate how different this life path and choice is and how those who choose to live it are very commited to their ways.
Not for everyone, but definitely for those who are considering this path, seeking to understand a bit more about monasticism and to gain ideas of how they can view it in their own lives. I know there is more this can help - but I can't think of it right now.
