Wonderful Movie

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Excellent but underrated film

The acting in this movie is really good.

OF GODS AND MEN tells the real story of a band of French Christian monks who continued to live in Algeria after the French gave that country its independence. They live in harmony with the local Muslim community, offering everything from medical skills to advice on love, but the coming of the Algerian Civil War ends that. The tension is ratcheted up as the countryside becomes militarised, with roadblocks and corpses appearing. The Islamist GIA turn up and demand the monks leave, or else they will be murdered. The monks discuss among themselves and after a lot of thought and debate they decide to stay. Eventually (spoilers) they are seized and beheaded, although the film carefully doesn't say by whom as nobody knows if the GIA or the government were responsible (especially as the DRS - Algerian intelligence - was manipulating the GIA throughout the war). It's a portrait of faith and humanity that is just subtle - thanks to fine acting and muted direction - enough to work, although the 'Last Supper' scene comes perilously close to over-doing it. It's a rare film that is serious about God, which makes this worth the watch alone.

The plot is fairly straightforward: a group of monks in war-torn Algeria have to decide whether to leave - and thereby ensure their survival - or stay, as their way of life has been threatened by a group of insurgents. What gives Xavier Beauvois' film its extraordinary power is the way in which it shows how some human beings cannot be brow-beaten into doing anything they don't want to. The monks have nothing on their side except the power of prayer and an unshakable faith in God, but they make the best of these qualities to put up stern resistance. Compared to them, the insurgents are presented as unsubtle, believing as they do that the gun can persuade anyone to do anything. As the elected leader of the monks, Lambert Wilson's Christian is just brilliant; his expression seldom changes, but we understand the power of his resolve. The supporting performances are equally good, especially Jacques Herlin as Amédée, one of the oldest monks who doubles up as a doctor caring for members of the community around him. Director Beauvois makes subtle use of Gregorian chant to point up the theme of the movie. What I particularly like about OF GODS AND MEN is its refusal to make generalizations; it does not posit Christianity as being in any way superior to other religions (e.g. Islam), but suggests instead that any religion should be a force for peace rather than a pretext for violence.

delicate pledge for tolerance. splendid poem about love, sacrifice and force of faith. but basic virtue remains the measure of image, dialog, acting. it is not a film about a Catholic monastery community, it is not about politic or terrorism. its subject is far to be complicated. it is the existence as puzzle of decisions and sacrifice. nothing more. nothing else. sure, the presence of Michael Lonsdale or Lambert Wilson, the hymns, atmosphere, the Christian lesson without any thesis demonstration, Jacques Herlin who remembers the silhouette of Abbe Pierre are important bricks for film. but essence is the feeling of viewer. the subtle emotion. because it is a film about daily reality. and inspired answers to its challenges.

One can react to a film in many ways including: intellectually, viscerally, emotionally, cognitively, spiritually and aesthetically. One's reaction to a particular film is the result of complex interactions of all of the above and the characteristics of the film itself. Certain films are more likely to bring out particular types of reactions. This film works on many levels and will draw out complex and individual responses from each viewer. My responses were heavily influenced by my being a member of Catholic men's religious order that has a long (and ongoing) history or missionary work that, at times, puts our men in danger. This was true in the centuries since our founding and remains true for a number of my friends who are working "undercover" in several countries. I first watched Of Gods and Men with another member of the order who had already seen it but wanted to share the video and the experience with me. We watched on a small not very good TV with wretched sound. But within moments of the opening all of that faded away. When it was over I sat in the dark room stunned. I know several Trappist monks. I admire their lives and occasionally retreat at one of the their monasteries. While their vocation to contemplative monastic life is not my vocation, the bond of being in religious vows allows us to share something fundamental and vital. I was stunned when I read about the killings in Algeria and followed the story closely in the papers. Before watching the film I read the very well-written The Monks of Tibhirine that supplied some back story and biographical information that was not included in the film, a great deal about the history of Islamic fundamentalism in Algeria and much history of the French in Algeria. The scenes during which the men were discerning God's will, both as a community and individually, ring true. The lack of consensus, the bickering, the fear, the acceptance and the gradual movement of the Spirit are the same for all orders when they engage in corporate discernment emerging from each member's individual discernment. Though forewarned by my buddy, the scene of Swan Lake playing in the refectory was emotionally wrenching. The looks on the men's faces as the music swirled and the sense of community returned could never be described in words. I've been as deeply moved and emotionally drained each time I've watched the movie since (about four times since the initial viewing a year ago). Quibbles about the lack of action are absurd. That is not the kind of life we lead as religious. Prayer, Mass, and contemplation (even in an active order) are the backbone of our lives together and as individuals. The combination of the honesty of the portrayals of the men's and the community's spiritual crises along with the sublime cinematography combine to make this an extraordinary film on all levels.