La rupe della clausura

Der Fels der Klausur

Switzerland, January 1999
FILM, Documentary, 72 min.

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directed by
Mike Wildbolz
Written by
Mike Wildbolz, Liliana Piantini Piffaretti
Status
In distribution

The convent of the oldest enclosed order of nuns in Ticino, Italian-speaking Switzerland, which has been in continuous service since its foundation in 1490, is forced to open its doors for the purpose of a major renovation. A film crew takes advantage of this rare opportunity created by the need for architects. Although the nuns do not consent to being filmed in close-up, they allow interviews in strictly controlled conditions, i.e. reading out pat phrases about religious life against a black background, in a process that underlines the fact that as nuns they are not supposed to have an individual identity. The nuns operate as a closed community inaccessible to the outside world. Their primary task indeed is to pray for the redemption of souls living “in the exterior world”. The renovation finished, the doors of the cloister will again slam shut on these unworldly women and their difficult search for inner truth.

Il più antico convento di clausura del Ticino, fondato nel 1490 e mai abbandonato dalle monache, apre le porte per essere rinnovato. Con gli architetti entra anche una squadra film. Le monache non si lasciano filmare da vicino e concedono delle interviste sottoforma di lettura di concetti stereotipati i quali vengono presentati rigorosamente su un fondo nero per sottolineare come a queste donne non sia più permesso possedere una propria identità. Le monache formano una comunità chiusa e inaccessibile il cui scopo primario è la preghiera per il mondo esterno. Alla fine dei lavori di restauro più nessuno vedrà l'interno del convento che ritornerà a nascondere l'ardua ricerca interiore delle monache.

credits

World Premiere
January 1999
Original Version
Italian (german subtitles),  colour, 72 min.
Production
Studio Ludiano, RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera
Producer
directed by
Mike Wildbolz
Written by
Mike Wildbolz, Liliana Piantini Piffaretti
Editing
Marianne Quarti

World Sales / World Rights

World Rights
RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera , Mike Wildbolz

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