The Calling (2019): cast, story & where to watch
2019 · Film · ★ 5

Released in 2019, The Calling is a notable film.
What it’s about. They left ordinary life, wife, kids, work and entered to a monastery. In its portraits of three monks, Erik Praus’s documentary captures the inimitable spiritual ambiance and mysticism of Pochayiv Lavra, an Eastern Orthodox monastery on a hill above the town of Pochayiv in western Ukraine’s Ternopil Oblast. Fathers Gabriel, Vicilentius and Nazarij have left their past traumas behind, finding peace, balance and their lives’ meaning at the monastery. Their stories are allegories of spiritualization and purification from human passions against the backdrop of the turbulent Ukrainian reality. Motivated by material need and spiritual desperation, the faithful flock to this place of pilgrimage in search of new strength and forgiveness. The film respectfully observes the monks’ everyday lives, while also noticing the opulent splendour of their surroundings. The road to faith is not a privilege of the chosen few; it is open to all who hear its “calling”.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, The Calling has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Calling page.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Calling (2019)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Calling change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Calling worth watching?
- The Calling holds an audience score of 5.0 out of 10. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- When was The Calling released?
- The Calling was released in 2019.