As in Heaven so on Earth

Into Great Silence

September 2005 •German

An intimate portrayal of the everyday lives of Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse, high in the French Alps (Chartreuse Mountains). The idea for the film was proposed to the monks in 1984, but the Carthusians said they wanted time to think about it. The Carthusians finally contacted Gröning 16 years later to say they were now willing to permit Gröning to shoot the movie, if he was still interested.

The Carthusian Cloistered Monastery

November 2020 •Korean

Athos

June 2016 •German

The Athos peninsula in Greece is one of Europe's last secrets. Over 2000 monks live on Athos - cut off from the outside world. Access is denied to women, tourists are not welcome. Only workers and pilgrims can obtain a visa. The "Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain" attracts people who feel like they are missing something from their modern lives. With the help of three Athos monks, "Athos - A Taste of Heaven" tells the story of the island and its inhabitants in a unique filmed diary style. The film's guiding theme is the path we as people have to find and follow - each and everyone for themselves. "First we must heal our own souls, only then we can help others", is one of Father Galaktions core messages. He lives as a hermit on the holy mountain. Not all monks, however, live as secluded and demure as Father Galaktion. The film team is also received by Father Epiphanios - a gifted and poetic cook who certainly does not disdain the pleasures of life.

The Monastery: Mr. Vig and the Nun

March 2007 •English

50 years ago Jørgen Lauersen Vig bought Hesbjerg Castle, situated in the Danish country side, with the purpose of turning it into a monastery. Now, many years later, he is about to realize his old dream. A group of Russian Orthodox nuns are on their way, and thus Mr. Vigs life-long dream is about to come true. But, nuns have plans and wills of their own, and Mr. Vig must realize that the road to fulfilling his dream is very different than what he imagined.

Good News

April 1994 •Russian

The "Good News" is a film dedicated to one of the main holidays of Orthodox Christians: the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. The main idea of this holiday is the beginning of the liberation of the human race from sins and eternal death, the joyful news about the upcoming birth of Jesus Christ. The film shows how people living in the remote Russian village are preparing for the Annunciation, marking the turning point of winter and the beginning of field work. Everyday details of the parish community life help to feel Russian Orthodox customs that have been formed for centuries.

The Moscow Pilgrims

September 1995 •Russian

"The Moscow Pilgrims" is a film that takes you on a tour of Russia’s ancient capital. The film’s main characters – father and son – are doing the most intersting sights of old Moscow, including the Simonov Monastery, the New Spassky Cloister and the Krutitsky Church located on a picturesque bank of the Moskva River. The celibate priest Ilia, the dean of the church of the Holy Mother of God father Vladimir and other priests will help the pilgrims and visitors to see the world of Moscow’s ancient holy sites: the burial-vault of the noble Romanov family, the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of God recently cleared from security services, and the graves of the Kulikovo battle heroes, the monks Oslyabi and Peresvet.

The First Dean

October 1995 •Russian

The Church of the Resurrection of Christ located in the Moscow district Sokolniki is one of the most remarkable churches in Moscow. Built a few years before the revolution, it has a history that reflects the fate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 20th century. Its walls remember the First World War and two revolutions, the confiscation of church treasures and the restoration of the patriarchate. The film features the builder and first dean of the church of Resurrection, father Johann Kedrov who was persecuted and exiled under the Soviet regime. The parishioners of the church will always remember this man.

Mysterion

August 1991 •Finnish

A documentary about a convent of Russian Orthodox nuns in Estonia who have dedicated their lives to serving God.

Kláštorisko

January 2011 •Slovak

Aleph

April 2021 •Spanish

Structured as a labyrinth-like game and inspired by Jorge Luis Borges, Aleph is a travelogue of experience, a dreamer's journey through the lives, experiences, stories and musings of protagonists spanning ten countries and five continents.

Celibaat

September 2019 •Dutch

A documentary about the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in the Netherlands.

On the Other Side

November 2022 •French

The oldest Quebecois Benedictine convent open its gates to a documentary filmmaker for the first time. Observed up close, life behind its walls is busier than one would expect. About twenty cloistered nuns, most of them over 70, share their daily life with diligence and humor. A contemplative portrait of a community of sisterhood and solidarity emerges, punctuated by prayer, work and games evenings.

Moscow Golden-Domed

September 1996 •Russian

The collection "Moscow Golden-Domed" includes documentaries from the history of the capital. "Egoriy the Brave" about the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, whose image has adorned temples, princely and royal coats of arms, and banners of Russian troops since ancient times. The film "Reigning" tells about the appearance in Rus' in 1917, on the day of the abdication of Nicholas II, a new icon of the Reigning Mother of God. "Vratarnitsa" is a film about a chapel where Muscovites from time immemorial worshiped the icon of the Mother of God of Iberia. "The First Dean" - a story about the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sokolniki - one of the most remarkable in Moscow. The parishioners still remember the builder and first rector of the temple, Father John Kedrov. Filmed from 1993 to 1996.

Essene

November 1972 •English

Essene is about daily life in a Benedictine monastery and the resolution of conflict between personal needs and the institutional and organizational priorities of the community. In the Order, where the focus of life is the relationship of individual work and worship to the community as a whole, the brethren must cope with the same issues that arise in any community: rules, work, worship, values, love, and play.

Tanjuska and the 7 Devils

March 1993 •Finnish

A documentary about Tanjuska who is a 12-year-old White-Russian schoolgirl, with a face like an icon. Two years ago she stopped eating, then talking and finally she stopped growing. The village priest in Estonia has explained to the family that seven devils have made a home inside Tanjuska. These devils are giving her orders and only a daily ceremony can force the devils to leave the girl.

The Monastery

September 2019 •French

For the first time, cloistered sisters agree to be filmed for one year in all aspects of their lives. The nuns of Berthierville, the only Francophone community of Dominican nuns in North America for nearly a century, engage in a rare and unique documentary in which exceptional testimonies and archives intermingle.

The Island of the Monks

December 2017 •Dutch

The Sion monastery in Netherlands can hold 120 monks, but only 8 remained in 2013. Together, the remaining group bands together to help build their community back up. Their journey leads the monks to the Island of the Grey Monks.

Ivan the Terrible

April 2014 •German

Ivan, first tsar of Russia. History will remember him as "the Terrible. Russian people love him for centuries. He liberates Russia from foreign oppressors, demands absolute obedience and loyalty in order to radically modernise Russia? Ivan IV, Grand Duke of Moscow, first Tsar of Russia by the grace of God. A madman? A sadist?

Rusia: Revolución conservadora

August 2021 •Spanish

THE IMPACT | Groundbreaking Documentary

July 2024 •English

Discover the unsettling truths behind the world's most pivotal events in "The IMPACT." This powerful documentary dives deep into the shadows of global politics and societal control, linking past and present events like never before. From the chilling orchestration behind the 9/11 attacks to the hidden forces in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, "The IMPACT" uncovers the sinister threads woven through decades of deception. Featuring shocking revelations and thought-provoking insights, this film is a must-see for anyone ready to see the world as it truly is, beyond the facade of mainstream narratives. Prepare to have your perspective forever changed.