Comments on: Into Great Silence — Film Review

By: DInflux Ed

DInflux Ed — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:28:19 +0000

i read this review and then looked at rotten tomatoes. i hadn’t even heard of this movie, but it’s supposed to be great. I like to think of my self as a film buff, but i dont know if i have it in me to sit through what i hear is a very slow 3 hour movie. if i see it around ill pick it up for the collection then force myself to watch it.

By: Kedar

Kedar — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:31:07 +0000

I heard about this film and bought the DVD the first day it was on the shelves. The German title is “Die Grosse Stille”. Yes, it is indeed one of the best films I have ever seen. I watched the whole film in full length one evening and I can see I was moved and transformed by the approach, the simplicity and the artistic expression. Definitely a film/DVD to watch. Take the time (162 min), you will not regret it.

By: Sumangali Morhall

Sumangali Morhall — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:54:49 +0000

Thanks for your considered review, Alf. Interesting, as you say, how the sounds become such an important part of viewing when there is no speech. It seems all the senses become heightened when one of them receives less input. It’s certainly a challenging film, and as I confessed, I nearly succumbed to the fast-forward button, or even the eject, after 2-3 minutes, so 30 minutes is not to be sneezed at (certainly not out loud). I like the perspective it creates; a welcome departure from Hollywood.

By: alf

alf — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:52:10 +0000

Um, i should be a honest like John and say that I actually only speed watched this movie checking out 30 minutes in total, across the whole film. The “silence” definitely gave me joy. Now I know why: all the outer noise was a way of focusing our attention on the inner silence that was happening. That was a bit challenging and this would probably have freaked out non-meditatey sorts once they got bored with the beautiful cinematography. Forgive the extended ramblings.

By: alf

alf — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:22:19 +0000

Wow, I didn’t think I would like this film because i am not a fan of techno music. Seriously… The amazing thing about this film is the sound, the film maker reveals all the music and rhythm in the mundane noises of the world like footsteps, cupboards, shovels, paper rustling, wood chopping, birds singing, flies buzzing, the wind, bells… whatever. I don’t know if he was meaning to be ironic about a great silence, but I guess the world of these monks embodies hyper-sensitivity to sound and they are very conscious while they make any noise. The film revealed that to me.

I’m not sure I could hear the water hitting the ground when the monk was watering the garden but by then I was ready to imagine it would have sounded like a thundering waterfall, and maybe it does to the earth.

By: Sumangali Morhall

Sumangali Morhall — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:09:22 +0000

Thanks Jennifer, do let me know what you think when you’ve seen it.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:00:25 +0000

Thanks for sharing this… I look foward to watching it!

Blessings,

jennifer

By: Sumangali Morhall

Sumangali Morhall — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:10:59 +0000

Thanks, John. Honest comments are the best kind Hope you enjoy the film…

By: John

John — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:53:13 +0000

I liked the review so much I bought the film—as the famous television commercial goes.

Actually, in the not completely forthright spirit of television advertising, that’s not altogether accurate, for I haven’t actually bought the film… but I will most definitely leave a comment—and an honest one—when it finishes downloading…

Thanks for the recommendation.