Into Great Silence

Two hours and 40 minutes of silent monks isn’t normally my idea of solid entertainment but there’s no denying that this once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into a strict Catholic order is riveting all the way through. Director Philip Groning proves supremely adept at capturing the ebb and flow of life in the monastery throughout the seasons, and with cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle manages to come away with a handful of breathtaking images. Though you won’t get much of a discussion of faith (at least, not from these taciturn clerics), you will get a visual experience like no other.