THE MONASTERY
Dänemark 2006 – Director: Pernille Rose Grønkjær – Original language: Danish, English, Russian – Subtitles: English – Length: 84 min.
Once upon a time there was an old man who lived alone in a castle on the Danish island of Funen. All his life he had dreamt of transforming his dilapidated stately home into a Russian orthodox monastery. At the age of 82 the old man travelled to Moscow and the Russian patriarchate agreed to grant his wish. A delegate of nuns was sent to Denmark to inspect the castle and make it fit for its new purpose. This modern fairy tale chronicles the attempts of Mr. Vig, the elderly eccentric Danish bachelor, to fulfil his dream and cater to the demands of the nuns, led by the headstrong Sister Amvrosija.
"The universal story is essential and you may find it in the most remote places", explains director Pernille Rose Grønkjær who spent six years tenderly documenting the often amusing tale of Mr. Vig and his complex relationship with Sister Amvrosija. Her universal story touches on themes of love, legacy and faith, with painterly cinematography that illustrates the coming together of the secular and the sacred.
"I have always dreamed of creating a fairytale, and this is what Mr. Vig has allowed me to do. This fairytale touched something deep inside. From a personal and local story - in a very strange setting - a universal tale emerged: a story about an old man, his dream and vision, yet also a story about love and the difficulty of coping with emotions." Pernille Rose Grønkjær
Award: Joris Ivens Award, IDFA Amsterdam
Writer: Jens Arentzen, Per K. Kirkegaard, Pernille Rose Grønkjær. Camera: Pernille Rose Grønkjær. Sound: Kristian Eidnes Andersen. Editing: Pernille Bech Christensen. Music: Johan Söderqvist. Production: Tju-Bang Film. Producer: Sigrid Helene Dyekjær. International Sales: First Hand Films World Sales.
