“The Monastery: Mr. Vig and the Nun”
Director Pernille Rose Grønkjær
First Hand Films
Love can blossom in the strangest ways.
And “The Monastery: Mr. Vig and the Nun” is as unexpected and unconventional a love story as one could possibly imagine.
Mr. Vig, an 82-year-old bachelor, has a lifelong dream of turning his somewhat dilapidated Danish castle into a monastery.
Sister Ambrosija is a nun sent by the Russian Orthodox church to assess and prepare the castle.
The documentary, directed by Norwegian writer-director Pernille Grønkjær, follows the pair over the course of five years, as they struggle against obstacles ““ and each other, at times ““ to make the monastery a reality.
By no means is this film, nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance this year, a fairy tale romance.
It is a story of two very different people, united by a common dream.
Their love is not for each other, but for the ability to do something that will bring faith to others.
Still, “The Monastery” isn’t for everyone.
It lacks a strong, forward-moving narrative.
In truth, the film plays at its own languid pace, consisting of vignettes that depict the many obstacles in restoring the castle.
And though the film is subtitled, following the text seems a small price to pay.
If anything, the most prominent issues of “The Monastery” are those of omission.
Mr. Vig’s own religious beliefs are left ambiguous in the film.
He is shown early on in possession of several Buddhist objects and is disheartened at having to remove them at the Sister’s behest.
It seems a deliberate decision on the part of Grønkjær to focus on the genesis of the monastery exclusively, rather than any of the other interesting possibilities.
Nevertheless, there are many unanswered questions about Mr. Vig which will leave the audience hungering for more.
What else happened in those five years?
But “The Monastery” isn’t about the past of either Mr. Vig or Sister Ambrosija.
It’s a film firmly entrenched in the moment it takes place, following two people building toward a future.
Not everyone will find “The Monastery” to his or her liking, but for those on the fence, it would be a shame to miss out on this touching tale of perseverance.