Director's Statement
The Stylite began as a work of fiction about a man who in the face of a world growing increasingly materialistic, depersonalized, and divided decides to withdraw into contemplation and become a modern day Stylite.
While researching Stylite asceticism for this story I happened upon a photo essay by Georgian photo journalist Temo Bardzimashvili about a monk who is rebuilding a hermitage and chapel on a one hundred forty foot rock column called Katskhi in the central Georgian province of Imereti. Father Maxim hopes to become the first Stylite on Katskhi Pillar in six hundred years. It seemed that my character had come to life.
Intrigued, I immediately contacted Temo and so began an international collaboration to bring this remarkable story to the screen. Personally, I have long been interested in the history of religion and I am myself on a journey to catch a glimpse into the nature of purpose. This film will be one of the vehicles I plan to use.
There is, however, a broader more pressing objective for this film. With technology breaking down the dynamics and nuances of human communication into computer like abbreviated text messages, we are gradually becoming more isolated. While at the same time the multi-media revolution threatens to drown out and replace the independent thoughts we might otherwise have had. We are, in effect, losing our souls, our free will, and our minds. There is now little time or patience for quiet reflection as we are tempted by the next big thing boiled down into a repetitious crawl scrolling endlessly through our subconscious. Yet, this one trait, this ability of reflection, has been carried within us like a torch throughout the eons. It can be argued that this self reflection is what makes us human and now with all our gadgets, distractions, and conveniences we are in danger of extinguishing this vital inheritance.
Therefore, with The Stylite, we will strive to create a cinematic space within which the viewer can return to that primal reflection which has brought us masterpieces in art, breakthroughs in science, and love in our hearts.
