Joris Ivens Award 2006

The Monastery - Mr. Vig & the Nun
Pernille Rose Grønkjær

The eccentric looking Mr. Vig walks through rooms and ponders what nuns need. Ashtrays? No, nuns don't smoke. Are the blankets thick enough? They're used to roughing it, right? The rooms belong to the Danish castle Hesbjerg, which Mr. Vig bought once upon a time with the idea of establishing a monastery there. Since 1950, he's been dreaming of this, and his dream would appear to be nearing realisation, now that an orthodox community in Russia has declared itself willing to send nuns and priests who can start the monastery and help with its development. The delegation is lead by Sister Amvrosija, who has her own ideas about how a Russian orthodox monastery should look and be run. Documentary filmmaker Pernille Rose Grønkjær follows Mr. Vig in his preparations for the nuns' arrival and throughout the monastery's first year. During the film shoot, he often asks her for advice and even physical help, and she interviews him casually, about his childhood, his views on love, religion, his dream and Sister Amvrosija. The clashes between the stubborn nun and the equally obstinate Mr. Vig make for delightful scenes, and the beautiful location of the dilapidated estate allows for some really nice cinematography.

Denmark, 2006
colour, 35mm, 84 min
Director: Pernille Rose Grønkjær
Production: Sigrid Dyekjær for Tju Bang Film
Photography: Pernille Rose Grønkjær
Editing: Pernille Bech Christensen
Sound: Kristian Eidnes Andersen
Music: Johan Söderqvist
Involved TV Channel: DR TV; YLE
World Sales: First Hand Films
Screening copy: Danish Film Institute