The Many Storeys and Last Days of Thomas Merton
is the story of Merton in the last year of his life, embarking on his greatest journey. It’s a story of adventure and search that takes the viewer from his home at the Abbey of Gethsemani, across America in the turbulent year of 1968 and finally to Asia for meetings with the Dalai Lama and other spiritual seekers. The purpose of the journey? As always with Merton he seeks a fuller union with God. He believed serving as a bridge between west and east was one way in which his call could be lived out. The Many Storeys and Last Days of Thomas Merton celebrates the triumph of all that was gained by his journey, reflects on the tragedy of what was lost with his death and considers why Merton’s life and work challenges us today.

The Many Storeys and Last Days of Thomas Merton
Upcoming showings

May 14
Cincinnati OH,
Xavier University,
Kennedy Auditorium

June 4
Louisville KY,
Bellarmine University,
International Thomas Merton Society meeting

August 17
Columbus OH,
St. Martin DePorres Center

The Many Storeys and Last Days of Thomas Merton

Shipping begins 1/30/2015

Available within United States or outside

Those interviewed for this program include:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Richard Rohr, OFM
James Martin, SJ
Tori Murden McClure
Kathleen Deignan, CND
Dr. Paul Pearson
Br. Paul Quenon, OSCO;
Dr. James Finley
Dr. Anthony Padovano
Paul Wilkes
Penny Sisto 

Thomas Merton & His Holiness the Dalai Lama

What people said about Atkinson’s previous work on Thomas Merton:

"With grace and candor, Morgan Atkinson captures the diverse - sometimes contradictory - aspects of Thomas Merton's personality and life in this thorough and moving portrait of the brilliant Trappist monk whose writing continues to attract and influence readers around the world."
Dianne Aprile,
author of "Gethsemani,
Place of Peace and Paradox"
"Viewing Morgan Atkinson's film on Thomas Merton proved to be a profoundly religious experience. It brings out so well the paradoxical character of Merton, the monk, poet, peace activist, and spiritual writer who influenced the lives of so many during his short life. Highly recommended."
Br. Patrick Hart,
monk of Gethsemani and
Merton's last secretary
"Soul Searching is a powerful, rich and rewarding meditation on the life of Thomas Merton. It not only provides valuable insights into who Merton was and why he wrote as he did, but invites viewers to look deeply inside themselves as well, using Merton's words and the reflections of both scholars and those who knew him personally."
Paul Wilkes
Writer, Director, Co-Producer
of the 1985 PBS documentary
"Merton: A Film Biography"

The producer Morgan Atkinson is a documentary producer based in Louisville, KY. In a career spanning 30 + years he has focused on people or groups seeking meaning through a spiritual search. His earlier work on Thomas Merton entitled Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton was aired nationally on PBS in 2007. He has produced feature-length documentaries focusing on other aspects of spiritual seekers titled Gethsemani, Poetry of a Soul: A Monk’s Story and Uncommon Vision: The Life and Times of John Howard Griffin. See www.morganatkinson.com for more details.


Morgan Atkinson on location