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Film still from ESSENE. A monk is sitting at a table with a book in front of him.

Fri 06.05.
21:00

  • Director

    Frederick Wiseman

  • USA / 1972
    86 min. / 16 mm / Original version

  • Original language

    English

  • Cinema

    Arsenal 1

    zu den Ticketszu dem Kalender

A small Benedictine monastery in the state of Michigan. Wiseman documents comunal life here with his camera; we see the monks singing and praying, but also discussing their daily routines and their co-habitation. The film’s title is a reference to the Essenes, a pre-Christian sect that adhered to strict ascetic practices. The Benedictines in ESSENE cannot ignore modern life, and discussions frequently revolve around the conflict between personal needs and higher-ranking religious factors. Rarely screened, ESSENE is one of the most beautiful films there is about religion and faith. (hb)

Funded by:

  • Logo Minister of State for Culture and the Media