The movie of the monks brew
LEICESTERSHIRE monks are starring in a new film, which focuses on life at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey –the only Trappist monastery in England and the home of the UK’s first Trappist beer.
Outside The City is a feature documentary by Leicester-based independent documentary filmmaker Nick Hamer’s Intrepid Media.
Nick says he is particularly interested in stories that have spirituality at their heart and the film tells the story of the Cistercian monastic community near Whitwick – a community of 25 men, half of whom are more than 80 years old.
Last year, the monks launched their Tynt Meadow beer, the UK’s first ever Trappist beer.
They were given planning permission to build a 20-hectolitre brewery, converting part of the 19th-century monastery and creating the 12th Trappist brewery in the world.
The brewery was the culmination of five years’ work and deliberation by the monks, who made the difficult decision to close the uneconomical dairy farm which had previously been an integral part of monastery life.
Their full-bodied ale follows the Trappist tradition of being named after the place in which the monastery is situated. Tynt Meadow is the plot of land where monastic life was founded at Mount Saint Bernard, in a half-ruined cottage, in 1835.
Film-maker Nick said: “I discovered Mount St Bernard Abbey during the production of my last film Dear Albert (2014), which is about recovery from addiction.
“Several of the characters in Dear Albert were staying clean and sober by following the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and some of the members of these groups have retreats at the abbey.
“Whenever I find something interesting, I wonder if this could be my next documentary.”
Nick contacted Father Erik in September 2014 to inquire about filming in the monastery.
“He asked me how much I knew about Cistercian monks, I said very little, so he set me a reading list which included Thomas Merton and André Louf,” said Nick.
“We had 18 months of dialogue before the community voted and agreed that I could spend a year filming at the monastery.”
Father Joseph told the Leicester Mercury: “Although we have had filming at the abbey before, this was different as Nick was given unprecedented access to the abbey and community.
“In preparation for filming, he even lived alongside us for a week, living the full monastic life.
“The film follows the life of the abbey during this time of transition, with the development of the brewery, the death of some monks and the arrival of new monks.
“The film shows the reality of monastic life today at the beginning of the 21st century.
“Most of the filming was done discreetly and most of the time Nick was filming without a crew, so after a while we didn’t really notice the filming going on.”
Reflecting on the experience, Nick said: “I’ve discovered deeper truths about the nature of renewal.
“I’ve been reminded of the fragility of life and the impermanence of everything, but at the same time the inescapable prevalence of hope.
“Death and life are two sides of the same coin, the place of decline is the seedbed for growth, restoration comes from decay. I’ve tried to encapsulate this theme in the film.”
The trailer for Outside The City has so far been viewed more than 70,000 times.
The film will be out in the autumn, at international film festivals, then cinema, followed by TV and video on demand.