GRAND PRIX COMPETITION

THE MONASTERY - MR. VIG & THE NUN

Denmark, 2006, 84 min., Danish, English, Russian

Director: Pernille Groenkjaer
Producer: Sigrid Dyekjaer
Script: Jens Arentzen, Per Kirkegaard, Pernille Rose Gronkjaer
Cinematography: Pernille Rose Groenkjaer
Editing: Pernille Bech Christensen
Music: Johan Soderqvist
Sound: Kristian Eidnes Andersen
Production Company: Tju-Bang Film
Print Source:
Danish Film Institute
Gothersgade 55
1123 Copenhagen
Denmark
Tel.: +45 33 743400
Fax: +45 33 743401
e-mail: dfi@dfi.dk
www.dfi.dk


The Monastery - Mr. Vig & the Nun

The eccentric Mr. Vig has always wanted to start a monastery in the Danish castle Hesbjeg which he bought many years ago. And it looks like his dream of housing and attending to spiritual devotees is finally going to come true – an orthodox community is Russia has agreed to send nuns to the castle to help establish a monastery. The problem is that Mr. Vig doesn’t know the first thing about that nuns need. Do they smoke? Will the blankets be thick enough?

The delegation is lead by Sister Amvrosija, who has her own ideas about how a Russian orthodox monastery should look and gives Mr. Vig a run for his money. In this charming documentary filmmaker Pernille Rose Grønkjær follows Mr. Vig as he prepares for the nuns' arrival and throughout the monastery's first year of operation. Despite their tense relationship, Mr. Vig often turns to Amvrosija for help, asking for advice and even physical help. She in turn also indulges her curiosity about the owner of her new home and interviews him casually about his childhood, his views on love, religion and why he chose to start a monastery. The clashes between the stubborn nun and the equally obstinate Mr. Vig make for a delightful drama and the picturesque local gives way to gorgeous cinematography.

Pernille Groenkjaer was born in Denmark in 1973. Graduated in documentary direction from the National Film School of Denmark in 1995. She has created several award-winning programs for Danish TV Her "Repeating Grandma" and "Mad about TV" were nominated for best documentary at the 2002 and 2003 danish TV festivals

Filmography:

The Monastery - Mr. Vig & the Nun (2006), Joris Ivens Award, IDFA;
The Family (2005);
Fashion Patrol (2004);
A Complicated Family Life (2003);
Mad about TV (2003);
Repeating Grandma (2001);
The Models (1999);
Those Were the Days (1998).

SATURDAY, MARCH 31 AT 7:00 PM./FACETS CINEMATHEQUE

SUNDAY, APRIL 1 AT 6:00 PM./THE WILEMETTE THEATRE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4 AT 7:00 PM./FACETS CINEMATHEQUE