IDFA 2007
The Monastery - Mr. Vig & the Nun
The Monastery - Mr. Vig and the Nun
Pernille Rose Grønkjær
Denmark
2006
84 min
n.a.
The eccentric looking Mr. Vig walks through rooms and ponders what nuns need.
Ashtrays? No, nuns don't smoke. Are the blankets thick enough? They're used to
roughing it, right? The rooms belong to the Danish castle Hesbjerg, which Mr.
Vig bought once upon a time with the idea of establishing a monastery there.
Since 1950, he's been dreaming of this, and his dream would appear to be nearing
realisation, now that an orthodox community in Russia has declared itself
willing to send nuns and priests who can start the monastery and help with its
development. The delegation is lead by Sister Amvrosija, who has her own ideas
about how a Russian orthodox monastery should look and be run. Documentary
filmmaker Pernille Rose Grønkjær follows Mr. Vig in his preparations for the
nuns' arrival and throughout the monastery's first year. During the film shoot,
he often asks her for advice and even physical help, and she interviews him
casually, about his childhood, his views on love, religion, his dream and Sister
Amvrosija. The clashes between the stubborn nun and the equally obstinate Mr.
Vig make for delightful scenes, and the beautiful location of the dilapidated
estate allows for some really nice cinematography.
Credits
Distribution for the Netherlands
Cinema Delicatessen
Cinema Delicatessen
Screening copy
First Hand Films
First Hand Films
World Sales
First Hand Films
First Hand Films
Involved TV Channel
DR Dokumentar,
YLE
DR Dokumentar,
YLE
Production
Sigrid Jonsson Dyekjær for Tju-Bang Film
Sigrid Jonsson Dyekjær for Tju-Bang Film
Cinematography