An enlightening documentary that goes behind the scenes at England’s only Trappist monastery

It’s Thursday evening at the Lexi, one of London’s new breed of neighbourhood cinemas – small, independent and comfortable, dispensing arty films, posh popcorn and craft beer. Tonight’s film is a new documentary, also small and independent, called Outside the City – a portrait of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, near Leicester, the only Trappist monastery in England.

The screening has not been heavily publicised, but it has attracted a near sell-out audience of about 50. I’ve come with my sister and our mum, who once took us to the abbey because of a family connection. We heard about the screening after our cousin, who lives nearby, was told about it by her parish priest, now sitting next to her. Behind us are eight or nine nuns, who are noticeably keen on the popcorn. At times in the 82 minutes of the film, the chomping is all you can hear.