Typical Wiseman film using lengthy observation to provide a picture of an institution, in this case a monastery located in rural Michigan. The film does not reveal which monastery is involved. The title, Essene, refers to the name of a pre- Christian sect that lived in poverty and concentrated on ceremonies and rituals. Wiseman followed the monks in their everyday pious and practical activities. A picture emerges of communal life, but the film-maker also manages to isolate several individuals from the group. He was looking for moments when the individual comes into conflict with the community or its laws. The emphasis on the ascetic and isolation conflicts with the modern age penetrating from without.
