Of Gods And Men
04 Jan 2012
Director: Xavier Beauvois
France
2010
122 min
A small group of French monks in Algeria face a dilemma when threatened by fundamentalist extremists: should they leave, as the authorities insist, or stay and complete ‘God’s mission’? The palpable inevitability of violence is counteracted by the depiction of the monks lives: quiet contemplation and simple, often surprisingly humorous conversations and superb religious music. Full of subtly powerful performances, one standout is elderly but jovial brother Luc (Michael Lonsdale) the group’s doctor, defying the escalating chaos in his determination to continue treating those who need his help. Beautifully made and genuinely moving, this is ultimately a film not about religion, but about faith in humanity.