Portrait of a Monastery is a documentary by John Decker that follows the life of monks in the Order of the Holy Cross. They mainly rely on the teachings of the Rule of St. Benedict, focusing on peace, prayer, and work. This documentary differs from others by choosing to omit interviews. This gives it a very unique feel, as Decker instead chooses to highlight the beauty in and around the Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, New York. Scenes tend to jump from nature to the monks singing or partaking in regular activities. Everything is captured very gorgeously and makes use of the sounds that are present, rather than adding music in post-production, leading to birds heard chirping or the beautiful songs of the monks. Decker’s cinematography makes you feel as if you are there witnessing this in real time, and the use of the sounds that are naturally occurring adds to this. The outside shots tend to be very still, and there is a serene quality to these that encapsulates the way the monks must feel.

The documentary is split into four parts, represented by the seasons. It begins with Winter, and with it being set in New York it is rather snowy, at least when it was shot. This pairs nicely with not only the architecture of the monastery, and of course the dead trees and river, but also the monks themselves. They dawn white robes during prayer and starting with the Winter season seems intentional as to equate them to the purity of snow. It is also here we see the celebration of Christmas, and families joining together at the monastery to celebrate. Next comes Spring, and this is shockingly maybe the darkest section, with many shots taking place during the night. This part is also a little more honed in on the nature aspect, showing more of Decker’s skills with the camera. The Summer is when the monks are really shown as just being some regular people overall, which many people may not realize given the mystical aspect often associated with the name. They can be seen playing with different instruments, painting, reading, crocheting, gardening and other typical activities, which allows a connection to be made with the viewer, while at the same time effectively showing a day in the life of a Holy Cross monk. The Fall continues with this, with things like them washing dishes and playing a board game. It ends with a church bell being rung, which is a repeated motif that can be seen in every season of the film.

Overall, Portrait of a Monastery, provides a stunning look into the lives of the Holy Cross monks and their lives. The way it is shot is almost poetic, with a high attention to visual language, as previously mentioned there are not the interviews expected from a traditional documentary, or even a soundtrack. This made it crucial for Decker to deliver on cinematography as this would be the main substance of the film, and the first thing people would notice. Thankfully, he did absolutely just that, and every shot has weight to it. Cutting between nature and the monks ties them together in a way, showing their peaceful, from the earth way of life that they have chosen for themselves. At the same time the inclusion of their hobbies shows how human they are still while being on this holy and dedicated track. At one point, two of them can even be seen enjoying the most recent solar eclipse! This can, in a way, make them symbolize a bridge between humanity and nature in this wonderful documentary.

Portrait of a Monastery screens as part of the Short Documentary Program on Saturday, January 24, 2026 – Online for 24 Hours on this date and In-Person at 7PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901! Director John Decker will be doing a Q+A with the audience at the in-person screening! Get more info and buy tickets here. 

Short Documentary Program

Arrested at Delaney Hall – Louis Cacchione (Harrison, New Jersey) A standoff at an immigrant detention center in Newark leads to the arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka. 2025; 14 min.

A Way to Be Together – Trina Bardusco (Lambertville, New Jersey) In a New Jersey town divided by unseen borders, a Mexican immigrant community steps into the light. Their festival sparks pride and unity—but as fear grows, even joy becomes a radical act of hope. 2025; 18 min.

300 – Liam Abbott (Hoboken, New Jersey) Miles Clark has always lived for the mountains. At 46 years old, he’s carved out a life as a pro skier and mountain guide, chasing peaks and purpose across the globe. But for over a decade, one goal still loomed over him: ski 300 days in a single year. Weather, injuries, and life always got in the way. Until everything changed. In January 2023, Miles lost his beloved mother, the person who gave him his grit, stubbornness, and fire. In the wake of overwhelming grief, he turned to the only place that ever made sense: the mountains. That winter brought record-breaking snow and a chance. What began as a personal challenge became something deeper: a journey of healing, reflection, and rediscovery. From California to Antarctica, Argentina to Alaska, Miles skied through pain, joy, exhaustion, and awe. He found that the mountains weren’t just his playground, they were his sanctuary. And this wasn’t the first time they had saved him… 300 is the story of a man who refused to let grief define him. It’s about chasing a dream, not for accolades, but for meaning. And it’s about how skiing, day after day, turn after turn, can stitch a broken heart back together. 2025; 20 min.

Portrait of a Monastery – John Decker (Asbury Park, New Jersey) A visual mediation on the everyday life of Anglican Benedictine monks living in community together at Holy Cross Monastery in New York. 2025; 40 min.

The 44th Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between January 23-February 22, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid one as we will be presenting it online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. Most of the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person when both are offered. Also, we will be offering two FREE Filmmaking Workshops! The in-person screenings and the filmmaking workshops will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 1PM, 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$120; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. The Filmmaking Workshops are FREE and open to the public but have limited seating and require advance registration. To register email us at [email protected] 

For more info go here: FESTIVAL WEBSITE