Movie 2006.05.19 - Vaya con Dios

Vaya con Dios is a German comedy about three singing monks forced to leave their ancient monastery and go on a road trip to Tuscany to join their brethen. Having lived most of their lives in seclusion, Benno, Arbo, and Tassilo knows very little about mobile phones, cars, trains, cameras, most especially women, which results in many funny (and touching) situations. While making their slow progress across Germany, they bump into a pretty journalist named Chiara, who was driving her Mercedes. They convince her to give them a lift. With a handsome and naive looker like Tassilo, how can Chiara say no? Along the way, they stop by Arbo's home in East Germany, and he decides to stay with his Mom. Chiara drops off Benno and Tassilo in the city. With no money, no food, and no place to stay, things are looking bad for the two Cantorian monks. Benno meets a former classmate of his, who has become rich and powerful leading a rival order. Unknown to Tassilo, Benno gives up the fight and joins their rival. He even surrenders the Regula, which is the order's priceless volume of writings. In the end, the three of them were able to fight the temptations, and they make it to the Montecebillo monastery, where they spend their days discussing religious philosophy and singing Gregorian chants.

The ending is not really that simple though. Benno and Arbo are happy to be Cantorian monks again, but Tassilo, who shared a night of passion and pleasure with Chiara, is now a troubled soul. One day, he receives a tuning fork, which is his gift to Chiara. He makes his decision and bids farewell to his fellow monks. Rushing out of the monastery, he sees no trace of Chiara. She has gone back to the city, and it's up to him whether he wants to follow or not.

Best scene is the whole movie is when Arbo and Tassilo infiltrated their rival order's morning mass. While the congregation is singing a hymn, Tassilo joins in with his perfect tenor voice. Naturally, people were surprised and began to take notice. Arbo segues in with his bass. By now, only two of them are signing. Benno was so moved by the singing that he stood up and joined in the chorus. That must've been the best chorale singing I've ever heard in a movie. Simply superb.