The Monks of Cinema

About This Movie

The Monks of Cinema brings this raw, immersive experience where the spirit of Jack Smith’s Flaming Creatures looms large. Set against the backdrop of the Robert Flaherty Film Seminar, the film captures the essence of a community of filmmakers who live and breathe cinema, even when left out of the official narrative. That Vermont night, with its chill and quiet, contrasts sharply with the vibrant, chaotic energy of the film it intended to showcase. There’s a palpable sense of camaraderie and creative struggle, as the participants embody a sort of cinematic monkhood, dedicated yet sidelined. The pacing feels organic, like a dream woven with reality, where the atmosphere of the seminar grounds the outlandishness of their artistic ambitions.

The Monks of Cinema is quite elusive in the collector's market, with prints being severely limited and hard to track down. Its curious placement within the context of Jack Smith's work makes it a niche interest for those who appreciate avant-garde cinema. While not widely distributed, it remains a fascinating artifact for collectors, particularly those who delve into the intersection of documentary and performance art in film.