trailer THE HOLY ARCHIPELAGO a film by SERGEI DEBIZHEV

For an excellent, in-depth review of this film, with a lot of background about the director and the history of the monastery, see here: The review has several more videos with more excerpts from the film, and interviews with the director. This is a large-scale narrative about the life of the Solovetsky monastery. What is the spiritual life of a person? What is a religious tradition and what kind of role does it play in the modern world? How does faith in God affect people’s lives? The Solovetsky Islands are a key point in the spiritual geography of Russia. These places are marked by spiritual, historical, cultural events that have left a deep mark in history and in people’s memory. The Archipelago is located on the far outskirts of Russia. However, by the will of fate, it has become one of the most powerful symbols of the Russian spirit. The documentary was filming on Solovki for 2 years. Step by step, the film crew went deep into the measured calm concentrated prayer life of the monastery. The audience will get the idea of the life and spiritual work of this place. The substantive part of the film are in-depth conversations with wise monks. Here we will find deep reflections and monologues on issues important in everyone’s life. Understanding the importance of the topic, the monastery, represented by the abbot and the whole brotherhood, actively participated in the filming. The documentary included many unique shots, including the sacrament of tonsure. The content of the film is in harmony with the breathtaking cinematography. The way the camera captures the fantastic light and nature of Solovki islands is stunning. The film was shot in 6K format.