The film, letting us read between the lines, creates a charming depiction of two people who become necessary to each other.
Comment
02/01/08
The Monastery: Mr. Vig & the Nun (2006)
78 %
Reviews Counted: 18 Fresh: 14 Rotten:4 Average Rating: 6.9/10
Runtime: 85 mins
Synopsis: Wills are tested, and lives are changed forever in this heartwarming and often-hilarious documentary that tells the story of two very different, yet equally obstinate, people thrown together by chance--or destiny. Lovable, eccentric, and decidedly set in his ways, Mr. Vig is an... [More]
Genre: Foreign Films
Reviews
1 - 18 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
A dull and dreary film that derives its entertainment value from exploiting the sociopathology of its central character.
01/31/08
The truths of [the subject's] life, no matter how unbelievable they may seem at times, make him almost heroic and the film almost perfect.
10/26/07
Against all odds, you'll leave this remarkable film caring quite a bit for the old coot -- surely a sign of a very good documentary
08/31/07
Takes 80-plus minutes to cover what happened over the next six years as this oddest of odd couples feud, fuss and finally become friends.
08/31/07
A psychologically rich documentary about the spiritual practice of generosity and the difficulty we all have in letting go of rigid ideas and habit energies which have dominated our lives.
08/31/07
You can’t blame Grønkjær for being enamored of her subjects, but it’s odd that a documentary about the faithful ultimately feels like a spiritual tourist attraction.
08/30/07
An oddly graceful combination of fairy tale and romantic comedy, set in a forgotten corner of the world.
08/29/07
In The Monastery: Mr. Vig & the Nun, Jorgen Lauersen Vig comes across as a hybrid of quasi-Dickensian curmudgeon and modern grumpy old man.
08/29/07
Top Critic
This slim, sparsely drawn and gently affecting documentary fulfills the promise of Mr. Vig's singular visage.
08/29/07
Pernille Rose Grønkjær's portrait of Mr. Vig is one of affecting honesty.
08/29/07
Unlike far too many human-interest docs today, director Pernille Rose Grønkjær's fantastic little character portrait doesn't rest on the strength of its personality, with prudent attention paid to aesthetic nuances.
08/28/07
Anyone who has ever been involved in a dream building or renovation project will be especially fascinated with this real-life adventure-cum-fairy tale.
08/28/07
Shot in such a way as to make the castle seem like it resides in another world, The Monastery is interesting enough.
01/25/07
Pernille Rose Gronkjaer builds an affectionate but admirably unsentimental portrait of her eccentric, headstrong protagonists.
01/18/07
Top Critic1 - 18 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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