Of Gods and Men (2010)

8/10

adrean-819-33909830 September 2010

At the strong recommendation of the panel of 'Le Masque et La Plume' I went to see this film.

I was struck by, as others have said here, the fraternity that existed between the priests. I thought the most interesting aspect of the film was the relationship between the priests. At times you can feel the tension because of the strong decision they had to make. Also it being 7-8 men living together it was interesting to see the different personalities in a group environment; you have the natural leader, the introverted, the brave, the scared etc.etc.

I imagine like most people who've seen this film the performance by Wilson Lambert was very touching. He was totally believable as the cloister's leader.

Unfortunately the church is undergoing a very hard time in regards mostly to child abuse, it's nice to have a reminder of the positive aspects. I myself went to a catholic school with some Brothers and a monastery on campus. I have a very positive image.

Particular favourite scenes are when they prepare and sell the honey at market and of course when they listen to Swan Lake and enjoy a glass of wine.

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7/10

Top-notch Performances

claudio_carvalho3 March 2012

In 1996, in Algeria, eight French monks of The Monastery Notre-Dame de l'Atlas of Tibhirine have a simple life serving the poor community that was raised around the monastery. During the Algerian Civil War, they are threatened by terrorist but they decide to stay in the country and not return to France.

One night, the extremists break in the monastery and abduct seven monks. A couple of months later, they are found dead in controversial circumstances.

"Des hommes et des dieux" is a film based on a true story and supported by top-notch performances. The official and non-official versions of the death of the Tibhirine priests can be found in Internet. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Homens e Deuses" ("Men and Gods")

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8/10

Flawed, but powerful and important

runamokprods17 December 2011

I seem to fall between the two camps of critical reaction. The majority who feel this is a classic, great film, or a sizable minority who call the film boring, historically inaccurate, and all surface.

I find myself agreeing with some points made by the critics, e.g., being bothered that the film never really examines how hated the French were for their earlier colonialism. That larger context is part of what makes these Brothers targets. One passing mention is hardly enough to deal with a huge element of the underpinnings of the story.

You could use it to make the Brothers seem even more brave and to more deeply understand that they took a risk to reach out and just be there even before things get 'bad', and/or to make the hatred they faced from the terrorists and the Army not just seem random.

To be clear, that hatred is unforgivable. But understanding how something happened, or why your enemy hates you doesn't equal forgiving terrorism. But is part of the path to peace. And it is something these wise, well read monks would have known about and must have been part of their thoughts and discussions, though its largely avoided here.

I also agree that the film is slow in parts, sometimes needed to establish the rhythm of the monks' lives, but other times getting repetitive with no seeming advantage.

In addition, besides the two main characters, the other monks are largely one-note sketches, and the sudden turn around of those who wanted to leave – maybe the most fascinating action in the film - is largely under explored, Some of the time spent used on repeated rituals or re-tread conversations could have been used to deepen the understanding of those men and their heartrending confusion.

It also bothered me that those who wanted to leave are never given the strong or convincing arguments they easily could have. They're almost made to seem cowardly, or 'wrong'. The film could have gone further in it's compassion towards these men, and understanding that this was a complex decision, even on a theological level. When does God want us to martyr ourselves and when would God rather we not sacrifice the gift of life to find a way to live to fight another day? I can think of a number of third choices between surrender and simply running away. These men must have examined those options, but there is little sign of it here. I have no problem with the film's conclusion, but I wish it had felt both sides presented with equal weight and seriousness, as I assume must have happened among the real monks.

But my biggest problem is that the film's style, while inviting thought, is somewhat emotionally distancing, so while my brain was deeply engaged, my heart was less than I wish it was. I wanted to weep for these men and for the world, but I found myself more caught in mind than in emotions. I believe the story was strong enough to carry both.

Now, all that said, I still think, unlike many of the professional critics that raised these points, that this is a very, very good film, made with intelligence and passion. It is visually simple but stunning to look at. Its slow pace adds to the meditative, un-Hollywood feel that eschews inflating drama for its own sake, and allows us a taste of the peace these men experience by living in their simple, giving way, even in the midst of war. And there are scenes of sheer brilliance, where whole stories are told on peoples' faces with little or no dialogue. Scenes where a combination of photography and acting capture a huge range of complex emotions. We watch fear, joy, transcendence, defeat, and loss run through the hearts of these men within seconds of each other without a word needing to be said, That is film-making of a high order.

Ultimately, this is a film that deserves and needs to be seen. A plea for peace and courage in the face of hatred. But that doesn't mean it isn't a flawed work, or that acknowledging those flaws dismisses those very good things the film does accomplish.

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Very slow paced at times, but very well observed and acted

bob the moo19 August 2013

The other day I watched the film Compliance, which tells a true story in the form of a drama. I didn't find much in the film and wondered why it added nothing to the events other than showing them. I mention this because the opposite is true with Of Gods and Men. Here we have a true story told but done in a way that adds to the characters, engages the viewer and has room for thought. The priests of the story struggle with whether or not to leave their monastery in Algeria once it becomes very dangerous due to the actions of fundamentalists in the region. This is the majority of the film in a nutshell and as such it is perhaps not a film that could stand a mass audience.

I don't say this in a condescending way, but just that the film is probably too slow for the casual viewer – not that others "won't get it" or any such nonsense as that. I liked the film but even for me there were times where it lingered too long or spent too long showing us certain aspects of life in the monastery. It did feel longer than 2 hours and I think this is mostly down to the fact that the whole film has a very slow pace and very gentle delivery. The upside of this is that it does have more emotional impact as a result – because the characters are clearer, we understand their minds and I enjoyed that I was able to see their struggle and also understand the reasons for their decisions because I had seen the role they played.

The film matches the slow pace with some beautiful shots; visually it is a very still film and it does feel at times that it is like a great painting, with the use of light and atmosphere. The performances are where the film delivers best though. Everyone is strong and seems to have understood their characters very well because they are convincing and engaging. The ballet music meal towards the end of the film is the best example but there are plenty of equally strong and expressive moments throughout.

It is a slow film and even though I liked it, I did still struggle with the glacial pace at times. It rewards and satisfies at the same time, but a few times you do need to stick with it while it unfolds slowly.

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7/10

A Conflict of Faith

johno-2112 February 2011

I saw this last month at the 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival where it won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It has also won in that same category by the National Board of Review and was France's official submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film although it didn't make the short list. Making its debut at the Cannes Film Festival it went on to win the Grand Prix Award there. This is set in 1996 and is based on the events of a true story that took place during the struggle for power by different Islamic guerrilla groups and the government in Algeria. Caught in the middle are a group of French Roman Catholic Trappist Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance operating the self-sufficient monastery of Tibhiirine in the Algeian highlands and helping the people its nearby village. The monks have been largely left alone by the area guerrilla fighters but when their leader is killed he is replaced by an even more brutal leader and the threat to their existence is imminent. They must decide to stay or go. From writer/director Xavier Beauvois this is a dark film that moves slow in it's two hours. Great cinematography from veteran photographer Caroline Champetier with a beautiful production design by Barthélémy in converting an abandoned monastery in Morroco that hadn't been used in 40 years for the setting. Lambert Wilson leads the ensemble cast as the Christian the leader of the monks with veteran actor Michael Lonsdale as the monastery and village doctor. This film is about 30 minutes to long and too artistically clichéd for my liking. Lots of audiences and critics love it but I would only give it a 7.0 out 10

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9/10

An inner poetry and reverence for life

howard.schumann13 March 2011

As Vivekananda has said, "The intensest love that humanity has ever known has come from religion, and the most diabolical hatred that humanity has known has come from religion." Both of these elements are present in Xavier Beauvois Of Gods and Men, the story of seven Roman Catholic French Trappist monks kidnapped by radical Islamists from their monastery in the village of Tibhirine in Algeria during the 1990s Algerian Civil War. The film depicts the sacrifices people of good will in both religions are willing to make for each other, and that the separation between religions is not an unbridgeable gap.

Winner of the Grand Prix at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, Of Gods and Men stars Lambert Wilson as Christian, Prior of the monks, and 79-year-old Michael Lonsdale as a world weary medic who treats up to 150 Moslem villagers each day. The film derives its title from the Book of Psalms, Psalm 82:6-7 quoted at the beginning of the film: "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes." Filmed in Morocco, the film shows the daily life of the Trappist monks before the terrorist threat becomes real.

Though a large part of their day consists of contemplation and devotion, living in close contact with the Muslim population allows them to interact with them in a positive way, healing the sick, selling honey in the nearby markets, and caring for the aged. In addition, daily chores such as cooking, gardening, loading wood for the fireplace, and cleaning take up a large part of the day. Soon word gets around about the murder of European workers on a construction site by the terrorists and the monks recoil in horror when they learn about the stabbing of a woman riding on a bus by Islamic fundamentalists simply because she was not wearing a veil.

The Algerian government asks the monks to leave for their own safety but Christian tells them that their calling is to serve the people of the community and he insists on remaining, though he is willing to let the other monks decide. The issue becomes suddenly more immediate when a group of fundamentalists show up at the monastery on Christmas Eve demanding medicine for their wounded colleagues. Though the request is refused, Christian quotes the Koran to their spokesman Ali Fayattia (Farid Larbi) and they end up shaking hands, though the Prior senses rightly that they will be back.

When all agree that they will not abandon the monastery even at the risk of death, the dramatic high point of the film is reached when the monks recreate the Last Supper by sitting around a small table drinking wine and listening to a recording of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet. As the camera pans from face to face, we can observe a beatific smile on some faces and tears on others, demonstrating an inner poetry and reverence for life. The monks are not Christian moralists but spiritualists confronting the extremes of the human condition, characters who point the way to overcoming despair.

The monks, like the Curé de Torcy in Bernanos' Diary of a Country Priest, love poverty "with a deep, reasoned, lucid love as equal loves equal", expressing the eternal struggle of the spirit to know Christ and to come to terms with his anguish. The heroes of the film are not saints. They are flesh and blood human beings, full of ambiguity and fear, but never far from compassion and humility, willing to offer us the possibility of a world transformed by grace.

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9/10

Subtle, tender, and honest

jimharvey8710 February 2011

Chris Morris's debut Four Lions (2010) found fame in it's irreverent portrayal of Islamic fundamentalism in Yorkshire: the headlines that accompanied Brass Eye (1997-2001) successfully carried on into a low-key marketing campaign in that debut feature. Beauvois' film isn't so much a farcical account of the spiralling contradictions of religious extremism. But it does share its preoccupation with exactly how far one, or rather a small community, can go to devote themselves to their beliefs.

The film is located in the 1996 Algerian Civil War, and tells the true story of a monastery under threat from the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA). Dom. Christian (Lambert Wilson) takes it upon himself to express their intentions to ignore the threats, and continue their mission of goodwill. This is disputed by the group throughout, whose dilemma forces some of them to question their allegiance to God, and jeopardise their own health (as with the outstanding Michael Lonsdale's, Luc). Coping with the sacrifices involved in such an all-consuming faith is key to the themes here ("We're not here for martyrdom" reminds Christian), and it's difficult to recall a more delicate, understated study. An excellent example of Beauvois' achievement, both visually and performance-wise, is the kiss Luc places on the mural of Christ. Moments like this underline the dependency they all share on one thing alone: their religion. It looms over them, both haunting and cradling them throughout, like the vast, unspoiled skylines which constantly diminish them beneath - Caroline Champetier's cinematography is key to the affect created.

Tranquil moments like Luc's, where the viewer is allowed in such close, personal space, are almost unsettling in the access that's granted. The beauty achieved in these meditative scenes is all the more striking as we're reminded that these men are nearing the end of their lives. Death is always present – from direct representation (as with the brutal throat-slitting of the Croat workers) to the indirect (the technique of cutting from the most tranquil scene to the loudest, most destructive scene).

The film is an anti-thriller in its treatment of fear and terror - the key moment occurs before the half-way point, and the viewer is left fearing for a reprisal for the duration. Beauvois' alternative narrative, featuring a fairly clear split down the middle, also featured in his previous Don't Forget You're Going to Die (1995) and To Mathieu (2000). Similarly, more recently, Mia Hansen-Love's Father of My Children (2010) involved a number of characters picking up the pieces in the wake of death. French colonialism in Algeria is only once directly attacked, when the police chief demands they leave. However, when viewed in a similar light to, say, Hidden (Cache, Michael Haneke, 2005), the occupation these men choose, the service they provided, the sacrifice they made, could too, easily be forgotten. So while the terrorism fears, today shared globally, are a focal point, a narrative of this kind reminds one not to forget the horrors of the past.

Of Gods and Men is testament to a thriving New French Cinema. Thought-provoking, rich in content both (formally and thematically), it's difficult to find fault with a film that so meticulously justifies its choices: the landscape is artwork, the tone is perfect, and the performances are achingly affective throughout.

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6/10

Good illustration of religious moral reasoning

tor_e_s26 October 2010

I will not bother to describe the plot as it has been done other places. What I experienced as important in the movie was the changing dynamic between the monks as the drama progressed, from doubt and critical thinking about what the right decision is to religious, ambiguous, circular reasoning in the end, and how a norm for self-destruction emerged through their group interactions. Throughout the movie there is a heavy emphasis on religious texts and I miss more screen time for the monks' own thoughts and conversations, not just one psalm after another.

The scene that gripped me the most by far was a scene where the monks ate together and drank wine while they listened to classical music. In this scene they actually live in the moment instead of contemplating religious past or future and they come alive in a much more profound sense than earlier in the movie (except maybe for some of the scenes with Michael Lonsdale who does a very good job in the movie).

All in all an OK movie that shows how dangerous it can be not to question beliefs, this regarding both the Cistercians and the islamists.

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9/10

French monks in a catholic monastery Algeria have to decide whether to stay or go back to France.

Vehrlah10 September 2010

This film appealed to me in several ways. I liked the direct, intimate approach in the way it was filmed. It was very refreshing to see hymns used as a big part of the soundtrack, very different as to what you usually hear :)

In the cinema where i was watching the film, the average age must have been a lot higher than usual, and a few seats away, someone was even quietly singing along with some of the hymns, very bizarre feeling in a cinema!!

I liked the fact that they treated the subject of faith and the possibility of coexistence of Christianity and Islam, as well as the differences, in a very simple, every-day-life-way.

What was new to me was the visualization of fraternity. This aspect was a big thing throughout the whole movie. It is one of the things i least understood about priests and monks until now. It was amazing to see this feeling i have never personally experienced come alive on the screen and sort of being able to feel it myself.

I also liked that they used 'real' people and not pretty Hollywood types, but i suppose that is normal in a production like this.

I liked that a lot was left unspoken, unexplained and open for various interpretations.

The scenes i liked best was the one where: *the abbot was at a lake to find inspiration for his tough decision. *the 'last supper' with the close-ups of the monks' faces and the ballet music *the terrorist and the abbot talk about the birth of Jesus *the ending (usually i don't like abrupt and vague endings like these, but in this film it was bearable and befitting, because in real life it is also still unknown what exactly has happened).

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6/10

Believing or Leaving?

jadepietro9 April 2011

I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.

Psalm 82

(Mildly Recommended) Based on a true story, Xavier Beauvois' Of Gods and Men, tell the disturbing account of eight Christian monks living their pacifist beliefs while struggling to surmount the violence that surrounds their monastery. As the war around them heightens, they must decide to stay in Algeria with their devoted villagers or escape to France for their own safety. It is their continual debate of conscience that is the core of the film, especially when these holy men are confronted with Islamic extremists and an unforgiving army.

Two of the film's central characters are Brother Christian ( Lambert Wilson ), the stoic leader of this men and guiding force and Brother Luc ( Michael Lonsdale ), the monastery's aging and wise doctor who tends to the sick and infirmed in this Muslim area. These fine actors bring a solemn and commanding presence to their roles. Some of the other monks come off a bit too pious or saintly due to the nature of the script and the dire situation.

Of Gods and Men is far too leisurely paced. The director seems to be overly caught up in the monks' ritualistic lives, which, quite honestly is a bit of a bore. A clearer focus of the political turmoil engulfing the community is needed with more emphasis on the unrest and the monks' direct reaction to it rather than countless extensive scenes of worship and prayer. Much of the film, in fact, too much of the film becomes steeped in religious ideology and sanctimonious moralizing. The film becomes preachy and self-righteous. ( I was left asking myself if the monks' final decisions was indeed the right one, which might be my own religious bias coming into play. When dealing with the subject of religious zealots, I wondered if both factions, those being the Catholic priests and the Islamic terrorists, were extremists in their own right, which I am sure was not the filmmakers intent. )

Yet, the film's last half hour remains moving and unsettling. Beauvois' use of the music from Swan Lake is an effective counterpoint to the intense facial expressions by the cast of actors as they contemplated their characters' fates. The film's final image, a wintry scene of the monks marching into the forest only to disappear from view is quite hypnotic and touching. Were only the rest of Of Gods and Men that powerful! Do I hear an amen, brother? GRADE: B-

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9/10

Thought-provoking and brooding film about a Catholic monastery living a severe existence threatened by terrorists

ma-cortes14 October 2011

¨Des Hommes et Des Dieux¨is a magnificent religious picture about faith and sacrifice . Under threat by Islamic terrorists, a group (Laudembach , Rabourdin , Herlin, Pichon , Maly) of Trappist priests ( led by Lambert Wilson) stationed with an impoverished Algerian society must decide whether to leave or stay .French priests are living, working and praying in a catholic monastery in Algeria in the 90s during civil war and while help by various means to Algerian people , as the doctor monk (Michael Londsdale) heals ills , and other teaches and writting letters for the illiterate people . It starts showing how the Islamic locals and the Christian community coexist in harmony. The situation with the Algerian Fundamentalist-terrorists turns worse . They are very much appreciated by the local Arab population, but very much in danger . This becomes clear after some Croation workers are cruelly murdered by the guerrilla-forces. At some point they are threatened and unwanted by both guerrilla-fighters , the government and Military ,their presence results to less and less sure and obvious . In the end they are all can be kidnapped by the terrorists to swap them for their own prisoners in France or hidden or getting freedom to God.

This spiritual film is full of good feeling , stern life , touching sacrifice , and enjoyable relationship among monks . It describes their simple and austere existence only threatened by Islamism and intolerance , but they will have to decide whether to stay or go back to France . Tension and drama enhances when intense confrontations take place with each other, the terrorists and the locals, they all decide to stay. Sensational performances from main cast as Lambert Wilson and Michael Lonsdale along with the remaining monks as Rabourdin , Laudenbach ,and Pichon . Special mention for Jacques Herlin as a likable old priest , Herlin is a veteran secondary actor continuously working from the 60s . Sensitive and religious music score based in Gregorian songs . Very good and extraordinary cinematography filmed on location in Tioumliline Monastery, Azrou, Morocco . This powerful picture was stunningly directed by Xavier Beaouvous , a good actor , writer and director . Rating : Better than average ; well worth watching , because being plenty of luminous sensibility , brotherhood , love , holy feeling, faith and martyrdom.

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7/10

Should I stay or Should I go?

ferguson-626 March 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. This film may be tough for much of the American audience. There are long stretches of minimal dialogue and more filmed prayer than I ever recall seeing. This is based on the true story of eight Trappist Monks who are caught in the middle between some 1996 fundamentalist terrorists and the Algerian-Muslim village that the monastery serves.

The driving theme is the question facing the dedicated monks ... should they remain in the monastery and support the village or should they retreat and live to serve another community. The film does a terrific job of examining the strength of faith among this group who are still just human beings ... men who don't wish to die.

The government has ordered them to leave and the military has offered to protect them. The group, led by Christian (Lambert Wilson), decline the military offer and continually discuss the idea of leaving. The wisest of the monks, Luc (Michael Lonsdale), is in failing health. He is also the doctor and can't imagine leaving the villagers with no medical care.

Director Xavier Beauvois (Le petit Lieutenant) creates a fantastic scene where the Monks make their final decision to stay. Their dinner and wine event is set to the tune of the Black Swan symphony. Really something to behold as smiles and relief make their way around the table. Of course, as with most of the foreboding hymns sung throughout, we understand that their fate is decided.

The sparseness and serenity of the monastery is offset by the inner turmoil each of the monks face. This is presented very effectively but I do think the film misses an opportunity to shed more light on the overall political struggles of the time. We are really left in the dark on these issues and it becomes a very intimate, narrow focus on these 8 men.

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4/10

I'm sorry to say it, but ... no.

benjones-1114 June 2011

I feel awful about giving this film a low score, but I felt I had to on the merits of my levels of interest in what was happening or what was about to happen. It very much played out like the daily life of a monk - nothing was hurried, everything was calm and done in a pure and careful manner. In this way it perfectly matched the mood and the setting of the subjects of the film. But it meant that as a viewer we sat and watched while the characters would have endless prayer meetings, or silent contemplations, or long walks, or read books (to themselves - we don't even know what they were reading), or eat food, or have more prayers, or go for another walk. All done without a word spoken. This went on. And on. And on .... and on. The acting was very good from all parts, and it certainly felt realistic from all parts. But if, like me, you are not a Christian, you begin to question the depth of the story. Of course, it is a terribly sad true story. But then again, in war, there are millions of sad true stories. It almost felt like it was an attempt to glorify the religion, rather than to tell the story, since - as the film says at the end - the ultimate events were never known. In summary, it's a story which doesn't stand out from any other sad story of conflict, but we watch nearly two hours of nothing really happening, followed by film makers' guesses as to what may have happened at the end. I wouldn't advise watching this unless you strongly desire to feel closer to the world of a monk, and to feel closer to a film maker's guess at an individual story of war.

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memories

Kirpianuscus16 July 2016

it is a support for memories. about Christian message and about the mission to give the word of God everywhere. about the relation between Catholics and Islam across the history. about values, martyrs, tolerance and the life of monk. about lessons of faith as lessons about courage. about God. and about Orient, terrorism, options and roots. about men. and about gods. and the force to remain yourself under danger. each of this details, the performances - Michael Lonsdale does more than an admirable job - ,the tension, the hymns, the monastery life different by ordinary clichés, the magnificent scenes who gives more force, sensitivity and dramatic than dialogues or images are steps to a real trip in the past." Des hommes et des dieux" is a magnificent film. it is the only definition who could remains able after you see it.

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6/10

Faith hath no fear

dharmendrasingh9 January 2011

Of Gods and Men (loosely) tells the tragic true story of the French Trappist monks of the monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria, who were kidnapped by Islamic terrorists and killed either intentionally by them, or accidentally by the Algerian army in a rescue attempt.

In the midst of a civil war the monks are wise enough to know they are potential victims, and spend the little time they have deciding whether they should continue serving their mainly Muslim flock or leave. We see their vacillating attitudes as they question the morality of their role and the strength of their spirituality.

Lambert Wilson and screen veteran Michael Lonsdale (particularly brilliant here) have prominent roles; Wilson as the scholarly leader, Christian, and Lonsdale as Luc, a man imbued with a lifetime's supply of philosophy, not all of it religious.

I've seen many films where the pace has been deliberately slow. Sometimes the effect is soporific, but here it couldn't have worked any other way (though the esteemed film critic Pauline Kael would have called this film 'offensively holy'). We need to get used to the Spartan life of these monks so that the terrorist threat, when it comes, is suitably shocking.

Many who have reviewed this film have singled out, with easy justification, the last supper scene. What makes the scene so breathtakingly cathartic for the monks (and maybe for the audience, too) is that its peculiarity destroys its predictability. They eat in silence while Swan Lake plays in the background, allowing their silent interactions to express an eternity of emotion. It has the power to rival the comparable scene in 'The Shawshank Redemption'.

What's interesting about this film is that, while the central theme is thick with religion, there are other themes as stimulating. There is a debate to be had about the political points the film conjures in respect of colonisation and the feasibility of East/West cohabitation. For those interested in theology, there is piquant dialogue on the worth of religion and the interpretation of ethics.

Faith is presented here as both the force which gives the monks the courage to stay in their monastery, and the thing which ultimately sends them to their deaths. If you don't make the mistake of concentrating too much on the religious element you might find this a rewarding experience.

www.scottishreview.net

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9/10

A magnificent, innovative and brave film

thomaswilliams6756 February 2011

The plot of this film can be summarised as: Christian monks live peacefully in Muslim country, political situation changes, monks have to decide whether to leave or to stay. Boring, you may say, nothing happens, you may say and, in one sense you'd be right. But..... The point about this film is not the plot. What this film acknowledges is that the real drama of human existence is internal, the real action in our lives takes place inside of us and the real journeys that we make are in our minds and our souls. This is a film about relationships, between different communities, between individual members of the same community, between individuals and God and between individuals and themselves. This is a film about identity and place - two things we all have in common, like it or not. Personally, I found the religious aspect of the film intriguing. We live in a world in which religion is, again, being used to justify momentous acts. An analysis of how that works and what it means has to be relevant. But even if you are not interested by this, or are, as I know many people are, turned off by the mention of the words "religion" or "God" what the film does is to allow it's audience to begin to look behind these literal concepts at how the spiritual (whatever that might mean to you) functions in our daily lives. So, 9/10. 10/10 is very tempting but the film is not perfect. It would probably be boring if it was and a very definite recommendation. Oh, and by the way, it has some beautiful scenery, some stunning and innovative cinematography and some crackingly good looking men.

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7/10

a meticulous description of religious decision making

marc depreter26 September 2010

This semi-documentary based of true historical facts, tries to recreate the state of mind of catholic monks. They know the consequences of their choice : if they stay in their monastery they will be killed by terrorists; if they return to France they can save their lives. In the beginning three of the seven monks want to survive, and want lo leave. At the end of the film they unanimously choose to stay. Why ? Decision making is all what the film is about. So this is a psychological film. It is hardly fiction. We see them praying, singing, working, eating. Behaviour determines conviction. Rituals, psalm singing, silence, charity create and harden the monks belief. Their merciful God is the product of their way of live, and that God is the warrant of their decision. The decision of self destruction. A great example of religious horror, the catholic version of religious suicide. Brilliant social cinema.

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10/10

Remarkable, moving drama

Red-12519 May 2011

Of Gods and Men (2010) Des hommes et des dieux (original title) directed by Xavier Beauvois, is a powerful drama about good, deeply religious men

trying to live a truly caring, peaceful life under difficult circumstances.

A small group of French monks have lived in a monastery in Algeria for many years. They are clearly different in a cultural sense from the surrounding community. However, their simple life and acts of charity are welcomed and accepted by the Muslims in the adjacent village.

The plot revolves around the threat of death from militants in the region. The Algerian revolution has succeeded in forcing out the French colonial forces. The Algerian government and army officials want the monks to leave and return to France for reasons of safety. The monastery is seen as a remnant of colonialism, and is therefore the target of nationalistic and religious violence. The problem revolves around the questions, "Will the monks stay?" and "What will happen if they do?"

Lambert Wilson plays Christian, the elected leader of the monks. He does an outstanding job of portraying a man who could have succeeded as a leader in almost any undertaking. However, he has chosen monastic life, and now his leadership has become a matter of life and death.

Veteran French actor Michael Lonsdale plays Luc, an elderly physician who can barely walk, but can still heal. The acting is uniformly excellent. In fact, the acting was so good that my wife and I had to remind ourselves that this is a movie, and these men are actors,not monks.

The music, mostly chants sung daily by the monks, was superb.

This is a very powerful film. We saw it at the excellent Little Theatre in Rochester, NY. If you can't see it in a theater, the movie should work almost as well on DVD.

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7/10

The Sad Reality of Our World

Hitchcoc22 January 2016

I was surprised to see that some of the reviewers bring their politics to criticize this film. One claims it is really left wing. Interesting, since the right seems to be the one with the most fanatical base. I am not a particularly religious person, but I have no trouble showing respect for those whose religion is based on service and compassion. These Trappist monks have a choice. To follow the teachings of their God or leave behind those who they have served and who depended on them. There is little discussion, despite terrorists sweeping through Algeria. There is great tension when the traditionally powerless are faced with the (and I use this term for effect) godlessness of the terrorists. These are good people who never expect anything from their neighbors, who are predominately Muslim. The down side of this movie is that we all know exactly how it is going to end. It is also rather dramatic in its portrayal. Closeup are a significant part of filmmaking but the contrived scene of "the last supper" (lower case for me) is a bit over the top. It was hard to put aside my own prejudices as I watched this.

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10/10

Impacting

theman-0853322 May 2015

Some IMDb reviews complain this movie is slow. They are right, but fail to understand that the slowness is in the service of the story. These are men that choose to lead a life of routine and work and service. They choose a life in which each day follows the previous, and meaning comes from curing wounds in small children and selling honey in the local market so they can heal more wounds tomorrow.

Some reviewers say nothing really happens in this movie. Apart for a bunch of murders and the monks' bravery and despair, they are right. The monks seem passive. They foolishly choose to die rather than flee. They surrender their lives to the will of the God they believe in and the love of the community they have served for a hundred years. Is that dumb?

Was that the right thing to do? What purpose did their sacrifice serve? What if they had fled? What would the rest of their lives been like?

I love it when a movie makes me truly think. This one did.

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7/10

As expected

nicholas.rhodes13 March 2011

Warning: Spoilers

This type of film is not, frankly, my cup of tea. The idea to see it was more my wife's - she is Mexican and during our trips to her region of Mexico we always pop in and see a community of Trappist/Cistercian monks whom she has known for many year and one monk in particular who is a great friend of hers. When you know such a community, it's true that the film takes on a more familiar meaning. The monks live a simple and healthy life, selling their produce locally, and caring for the local population and indeed most impressively are little interested in material possessions like the rest of us. To return to the affair in question, I had heard of the Tibherine monks at the time in 1996 so knew something about this drama. The film was incredibly slow to me and of course lacking in action - but, knowing the story, I really don't see how it could have been livened up otherwise. I did not know most of the actors, outside Michel Lonsdale and Lambert Wilson but I found their performance magnificent given the very limited subject matter.On the subject of image quality, I found that several scenes left to be desires - too much grain on inside scenes and a lot of over-whiting in the sunnier outside shots plus a slight tendency towards yellow overall. Ironically, some of the best and most natural scenes are those where they country side was covered in snow and where one might have expected white to over dominate - but this seems to have been very correctly handled by the cameraman. To resume - the limited subject matter means that a passionate exciting film is out of the question - but the actors did the best they could with what they had available. Some of the musical passages were too long and we both concluded that the whole affair could have satisfactorily been locked into a ninety minute time frame instead of dragging on for 120 mins. On the blue ray disc we have, a "complément d'enquête" gives a very interesting comparison of the real monks vs the actors who portray them plus showing the actual monastery and interviews with some of the monks' family members. Certainly a useful contribution to cinema with good production qualities - I am sure the film will end up in a few years being sold in monasteries around the world once it has become better known internationally.

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8/10

Trappist monks bravely face their own private 9/11

Turfseer1 February 2011

Warning: Spoilers

With the Catholic Church getting so much bad press these days as a result of allegations of sexual abuse, it's refreshing to watch a story about Christians who are the good guys. Based on a true story, 'Of Gods and Men' chronicles the tragic tale of a group of Trappist monks in Algeria who were murdered by terrorists during the mid 90s.

The story begins with a group of seven monks led by their leader, aptly named Christian. They live in a monastery which has been part of an French-Arabic-speaking community for years. The monks minister to the local townspeople, providing counseling and medical assistance. One of the monks, Luc, apparently was a physician before entering the order and feels overwhelmed, seeing approximately 150 villagers per day.

The monk's peaceful life is interrupted when a group of Croatian workers are murdered by terrorists near the monastery. The scene is very realistic, as the armed terrorists suddenly drive up to a work site in vans and begin slaughtering each man one by man, slitting their throats. They allow a local worker to leave but all foreigners are marked for execution.

The local authorities offer to post soldiers at the monastery to protect them but the monks refuse. Soon, Ali Fayattia, a local terrorist commander, pays a visit with his gun toting thugs at his side. They need medical assistance for wounded comrades but Christian refuses to let any of the monks leave with them. Christian displays great courage when he tells Fayattia he won't talk to them on the monastery grounds while his men are holding weapons. Fayattia appears to respect Christian and agrees to speak to him right outside the monastery grounds. Christian, quoting the Koran, convinces Fayattia to leave, convincing him that they do not have the medical supplies to treat the wounded men.

The near slaughter propels a crisis of conscience amongst the monks. These simple, spiritual men are now faced with the reality of evil impinging on their ordered existence. They debate amongst themselves whether they should stay or leave. During the first vote, a couple of the monks vote to leave as they fear for their life; another is undecided, another two are in favor of staying and Christian joins an older monk in waiting for a sign from God.

The film tautly depicts a world surrounding a peaceful enclave ready to explode. Local townspeople inform the monks of a young woman who is murdered by teenagers because she refused to wear a veil. Soon, a local military commander accuse Christian of collaborating with the terrorists after hearing rumors that he permitted treatment of one of Fayattia's wounded men (the rumor turns out to be true). Later Christian is called upon by the Army to identify the body of man who has been identified as Fayattia. Christian says it's him but it appears that the local military commander doesn't believe him.

The situation becomes more dire as local news reports bring more bad news of terrorist attacks. When the monks travel by car, they pass burned out cars on the side of road with soldiers milling about—the aftermath of terrorist attacks on innocent victims. There's more intimidation from the Army as they harass villagers at the monastery's clinic and send a helicopter to pass over the monastery while the monks embrace one another, while chanting a hymn.

The monks finally hold a second vote and after a great amount of soul-searching all decide to stay at the monastery. While music from Swan Lake plays, they hold a Last Supper of sorts, with the camera focusing on the beatific visage of each monk. As Christian remarks in substance, their work of Christian charity is simply a reflection of the work of their maker. They cannot leave Algeria since they have promised God that they will always help the people they have promised to serve.

The ending is masterfully understated. Instead of focusing on the slaughter of the innocents, we merely see the terrorists march the captive monks up a mountain while it snows; the scene eventually fading to white, followed by the credits chronicling the fate of the principals.

Of Gods and Men works on two levels. First it depicts the courage of the monks as they face death. Can any of us say we would have been as courageous as the monks were here? Secondly, it's a cautionary tale about the danger of evil in the world today. No one is safe from these fanatics who seek to destroy the innocent with impunity.

Despite my admiration for the monks' courage in the face of an encroaching horror, I still am troubled by the fact that they remained at the monastery. What good is martyrdom when they could have packed up and helped other people in an area where their own lives wouldn't have been placed in jeopardy.

Of Gods and Men is sometimes slow-moving, particularly when the monks are either chanting or performing rituals of religious devotion. Despite this, there are many reasons to admire this true tale brought to the screen with great sensitivity and insight.

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7/10

Feels very real

valleyjohn9 February 2011

Warning: Spoilers

Of Gods and Men is one of the most critically acclaimed films of the last twelve months and i had been looking forward to seeing it. While i can see why the critics liked this film i couldn't help but feel a little disappointed with it. There are so many good things about this film , the acting , the build up of tension , the story all of which are let down by an extremely weak ending.Having said all that i still liked it. It's a film that feels very real and that's it's biggest plus. the scene where the Islamic fundamentalist cut the throats of the Croatian workers is brutal and will stay with me for a while and maybe this was the scene that they put in so we didn't have to see what happened to the monks in the end. This might be one of of those films that needs a second viewing.

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1/10

Long - Slow - Slow

MaverickRK27 July 2011

Long! Long faces. Long scenes. Long, long shots. I understand that this story has historical and religious significance. I understand that it is based on a true story that is dramatic and compelling. This movie is not.

We quickly see that these are French monks at a monastery in Algeria. But do we really need scene after scene of the Catholic liturgy, with Gregorian chants, that go on from start to finish? After the first one, they add nothing to the story, or our understanding of the characters, other than to make you pray... pray the scene will soon be over.

Do we really need repeated long shots of a car driving on a barren road, starting at one edge of the screen, and driving slowly, slowly, toward the other edge, until it finally clears the shot? I know. Let action clear the edge of the screen before you cut. But this was not action. It was molasses flowing.

And it is not the fault of the actors, who are clearly good at their craft. But it seems as if the director pointed the camera at each one of them and told them to emote. And they did. And the director said, "That's it. Keep on emoting. Emote more. More..." And when the director was done with that actor he turned to the next and said, "Emote. Keep emoting. More. More..." Seriously, there is one scene where that is exactly what they do. With all eight monks. In fact, they may have gone around the table twice. I lost track.

There are a handful of tense scenes (a small handful, believe me) with the terrorists, and with the army. But these were poorly developed, and remarkably un-tense considering the events.

And yet you stick with it because of the high ratings. You think, "This has to get better. The film won awards. People rave about it." Don't think that. If you don't love this film from the beginning, you will not love it at the end. It never gets better.

These "film makers" never learned that it is plot and character that drive a movie... Not how long you can hold your finger on the camera's shutter release before yelling "Cut!"

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The Dilemma of Patriarchalism

laura_macleod21 December 2010

Warning: Spoilers

Of Gods and Men is a fascinating film which presents arguments that will divide people - is it about faith and belief in God, or is it about religion and politics, should we admire the monks or feel compassion or just sigh with frustration at their turmoils? Or could we go one step further and comment that men and their quests for power and identity in the world just leads to one problem after another. I couldn't see any difference between the Islamic extremists, the brutality of the military or the stubborn pride of the monks fixated in their faith and their mission to help people and serve God. Of course we could say that the monks were 'good' but what right did they have to stay in that country when they were asked to leave by the government and that their very presence incited hatred and reminder of French colonialism and made even more violence? This blind arrogance that the monks had, was typically patriarchal as was the assumption that the Islamic extremists (all men as well) had the right to kill and destroy for their beliefs and the army (all male) could inflict a bullying regime in the name of politics and power etc etc. I can assume that when the monks were praying and in their darkest hours they were praying to a MALE God and furthermore, this sacrifice they all made was at the expense of family and bonds back in their own countries. Who knows what suffering they had all left behind for their choice of life. The total lack of feminine presence in the film was extremely powerful in reminding us that without the feminine having equal rights in society (and that includes Islamic society) there is no hope for balance and harmony. We do not live in a world where women have equal rights and that frankly makes the biggest problem. The Algerian peasant women were there in the background herded around like the sheep and goats and one village female elder had one voice in the entire film, the women were symbolically there for child rearing and nothing else. Meanwhile the monks fretted and stormed and prayed and had all kinds of crisis of their inner faith - somewhere they found brotherhood, most poignantly on an evening of a last supper together and with the strangest choice of music playing which brought them all to tears - Swan Lake. This seemed the most unlikely music to bring a group of devout monks to tears. But let's remember the story - Swan Lake is about male/female love and how the union of true love between a man and a woman conquers evil and darkness. Perhaps this is the biggest message of the film - a monk's life without the inclusion of women cannot be a full embrace of life, an Islamic extremist who keeps women in the middle ages cannot truly ever live in peace or harmony and a government and regime that uses bombs and war as a measure of keeping control be that government Algerian or anywhere else in the world, is ultimately destroying generations of children and their hope for a peaceful world - that is the misuse of power and patriarchal power structures that still rule the world we live in.

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