‘Learn how to cope with social isolation from the professionals

DOCUMENTARY AIRS ABOUT MONKS AT COUNTY MONASTERY

A new BBC4 documentary gives a fascinating view into the “inner life of monks” at Leicestershire’s Mount St Bernard Abbey.

It was filmed by Leicester documentary maker Nick Hamer, who said the monks “have a lot to teach us about living in isolation” during coronavirus.

The programme, called Brotherhood: The Inner Life of Monks, aired on BBC4 at 8pm on Sunday night night. It is a captivating insight into a community of ageing monks who reflect on their spirituality as the number of burials in the monastery graveyard continues to grow.

Nick spent a year working with the monks on the documentary and was given special inside access to the novitiate, the area used to home novice monks or priests, where he lived for seven days.

The abbey was founded in 1835, near Coalville, and was the first permanent monastery to be founded in England after the Reformation.

Nick said: “This film is my response to our context, to our culture of materialism, the complexity of our lives, and the decline of religion.

“That’s what makes these men interesting, they represent a counter cultural perspective. Of course, the monastic life is not for everyone, but there’s certainly something we can all learn from these monks.”

The monks are in a period of transition as they desperately try to raise money to keep their monastery open.

After being forced to shut down their dairy farm due to financial struggles, the monks are embarking on a new business venture - brewing beer.

Nick said: “It’s a historic moment in the life of the community, a change is taking place.

“Brewing beer is essential to the monks, it provides their income, they don’t receive any outside sources of finances from Church institutions.

“They make their own money and pay their own way, work is an essential part of their way of life.”

But more than that, the film speaks significantly to the context of the global pandemic - these monks are not new to social isolation.

The filmmaker, said: “It was created before the events of 2020, however, it is particularly apt at this time.

“We can learn about how to cope with social isolation from the professionals.”

Nick spoke with the Abbot of Mount St Bernard Abbey, Father Erik, about finding a purpose when all material things are stripped away.

He was told: “There’s a tendency in our culture to imagine the spiritual life as a journey of acquisition... but it’s much more of a shedding, a stripping away.”

Nick added: “I spent a year with the monks and I’ve certainly changed as a result.”

The documentary-maker is eager for audiences to watch the film, especially to see their responses to some harrowing graveyard scenes.

“The scenes of death will be particularly confronting for most. As you watch the film, you’ll sense an openness and intimacy as the monks speak freely about their lives and experiences.

“We get to the heart of the matter quickly, the permission is there, no small talk - what’s the point?

“The stage is set, it’s the subjects’ opportunity to be heard, and the filmmaker is working to make the subject comfortable.”

Audiences who saw a preview of the film in cinemas came away with a profound understanding of the monastery’s purpose and innerworkings.

Nick said: “Like me, the audience seemed hungry for an authentic spirituality, and I’ve been told in watching this film, they were not disappointed.”

■ You can watch Brotherhood: The Inner Life of Monks on BBC iPlayer.