Here's how the New York Times describes the film's appeal: "In an overwhelmingly noisy world, the Carthusians seek God in solitude; all things considered, including the enviable tranquility and focus of their lives, you soon understand why."

Sixteen years after asking the Carthusian monks for permission to observe their lives, Groning was finally granted access, without a crew or artificial light, to simply record their daily lives, prayers, rituals, and rare outdoor excursions. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at Sundance, Into Great Silence allows viewers to glimpse the transcendent within the routines of ordinary life. (162 mins., 35mm)