Vaya con Dios

Wonderful little road movie cum romantic comedy with some extras that make this movie special. Basically, Vayas con dios is a film about love and temptation. While there may have been better films in recent years, the central scene of this movie is the most beautiful scene I have seen in a long time. Here, all different kinds of love a portrayed in one crucial moment. Spirandelli, an opera director by trade, certainly knows how to stage his actors.

The quality of this film is mainly based on three columns: The good performance of the actors, a simple, but entertaining story and the brilliant film music.

It is the music maybe, that raises this movie into the rink of high quality films. Even if you dislike gregorian choral singing(like me), you will love them after having watched this movie. The scenes where the monks chorus are outstanding and overwhelming.

Conclusion: Do not only watch, but listen to this movie.

Because the monks cannot support their monastery (in the north of Germany - filmed on the location of the beautiful monastery Chorin) anymore, they are forced out and have to join the only other monastery of their (fictional) order in Italy (with which they have a century old conflict, but that's not the story. The remaining monks, i.e. three, hit the road with hardly more that their robes. They all get tempted and distracted from their path, but finally all ends well. These temptations yield wonderful discourses on religion, a love story, and good view on life in general.

What makes the film so wonderful is the music. This order has specialized in choir singing. If you now think "Oh, I don't like choirs. That's not my film.", you still should give it a try. The music completes this wonderful film, is an integral part of the story, and is really moving. You will love it, regards of your usual musical preferences.

But may be you should see the film with a good sound system.

The obviously very low-budget production describes the adventures of three monks of an imaginary, extremely musical order, who, after having to close down their small monastery in the north of Germany for lack of funds and people, are picking their way south towards the only other branch of the order left. On the way they have to cope with the modern world quite strange to them, as well as with their own back stories and desires (thus the tagline 'and lead us into temptation'). They get mixed up in church politics and make the acquaintance of a charming and crafty young journalist, a romantic yet disturbing meeting both for her an for the youngest monk. Somehow they manage to sing many a beautiful medieval or renaissance hymn on the way, and in the end it is the mysticism of their music that carries them through. The cast does an excellent job in portraying the quaint protagonists, the locations have been chosen lovingly and fit right into the story, and the whole cinematography is very solid work. If you have the chance to see this rather obscure gem, go ahead and have a treat.