i may just be a philistine and but this examination of the life of european monk ultimately strike me a pointless . the film simply follow the monk through their daily routine and without any back story on the individual monk or narration to give viewer any context . occasionally and quote from the bible will appear on the screen and with the same quote repeat frequently and offer no real insight into what be go on . to a certain extent and the film assume either a familiarity with catholic belief and or an overall sympathy with the contemplative way of life . to someone who do not embrace a mystical outlook and the film will come across a alien and or an exercise in boredom . this be not to say the film be without it good point . the cinematography be superb and capture the breathtaking beauty of the alp . however and this be ultimately not worth watch a nearly three hour film .