Now and for all times

The film Jetzt und alle Zeit (Now and for all times) is a description of a day in the life of the "Sisters of Bethania". The only convent of this small, contemplative congregation of Dominicans in Austria is situated in the rural remoteness of the village of Nestelbach, near Graz (Styria). Today there are eleven sisters living in a former country-castle, following the determination of their order in strict cloisterly regularity. Significant for the mystic-contemplative existence of the Bethanians are the vivid, daily mechanics and the ritualized form of their life, the sequence and the systematics of practice, introspection, (keeping) silence, change and return of the hourly prayers, of the times of daily work and chores in the house and garden and the silent presence in the chapel.


 


Jetzt und alle Zeit is not a filmic commentary on the topic "cloister", but rather the attempt to draw, in a documentary fashion, a condensed picture in time of a lived and ritualized form. (Astrid Ofner)

Orig. Title
Jetzt und alle Zeit
Year
1993
Country
Austria
Duration
42 min
Category
Documentary
Orig. Language
German
Subtitles
English
Credits
Director
Astrid Johanna Ofner
Script
Astrid Johanna Ofner, Hans Hurch
Cinematography
Sophie Maintigneux
Editing
Astrid Johanna Ofner, Hans Hurch
Sound
Klaus Klingler
Production
Astrid Johanna Ofner
Actor/Actress
Dominikanerinnen von Bethanien
Lighting
Torsten Fischer
Production Manager
Katharina Conradi
Co-Producer
Klaus Volkenborn
Production Manager
Stefan Ofner
Available Formats
35 mm (Original Format)
Aspect Ratio
1:1,66
Sound Format
mono
Frame Rate
24 fps
Festivals (Selection)
1995
Marseille - Vue sur le DOCS