Essene backdrop

Essene

1972·Documentary·1h 26m
7.1
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.
Directed by Frederick Wiseman
monk
religion
monastery
observational cinema
religious community
holy orders
spiritual community
benedictine monk
observational documentary
daily routine
law and order
daily life
daily challenge

Crew

Frederick Wiseman
Frederick Wiseman
Director
Frederick Wiseman
Frederick Wiseman
Writer
Frederick Wiseman
Frederick Wiseman
Editor
Frederick Wiseman
Frederick Wiseman
Producer

Popular Reviews

5 reviews
Sam Stevens
Sam Stevens
Essene
Wiseman’s ability to capture the reality of life in such an unbiased and open way is remarkable, his observational style is something so unique and powerful. I find it crazy that you can learn from a documentary without any narration that’s just purely showing you the lives of various institutions. I really need to dive into more of Wiseman’s work, he’s so interesting to me and I really want to discover all he has to show the world. His focus on institutions is really fascinating, he can go so in depth without saying a word, just letting the viewer make their own interpretations of what he’s giving them. I really liked this one, focused on the lives of a Benedictine monastery and all the various problems that arise in everyday life. A very mindful and peaceful one, with a very pure outlook.
Wiseman’s ability to capture the reality of life in such an unbiased and open way is remarkable, his observational style is something so unique and powerful. I find it crazy that you can learn from a documentary without any narration that’s just purely showing you the lives of various institutions. I really need to dive into more of Wiseman’s work, he’s so interesting to me and I really want to discover all he has to show the world. His focus on institutions is really fascinating, he can go so in depth without saying a word, just letting the viewer make their own interpretations of what he’s giving them. I really liked this one, focused on the lives of a Benedictine monastery and all the various problems that arise in everyday life. A very mindful and peaceful one, with a very pure outlook.
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Greifff
Greifff
Essene
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Patrick Michael
Patrick Michael
Essene
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Casey clough
Casey clough PRO
Essene
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Enrico
Enrico
Essene
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