Of Gods and Men

Of Gods and Men is the austere, beautiful and sometimes hard-to-watch story of French monks in Algeria, threatened with death by the local fundamentalists, who make it clear what their fate will be if they stay. The question of whether to stay or go preoccupies the monks for much of the film. In a way, their eventual choice lifts some of the weight on them, only to open up further troubling questions. We see the monks driven by the selfless and humanistic desire to serve their community, but also by the tempting prospects of a safe return to civilisation, or the more extreme path of martyrdom.

At one point towards the end of the film, the camera pans lingeringly around the faces of all the monks as they drink a rare glass of good red wine and listen to beautiful orchestral music from Tchaikovsky‘s Swan Lake, lost in an aesthetic rather than religious trance; the camera stays too long for comfort, watching their expressions change as they realise the weight and ramifications of their choice. Dwelling on this handful of men and the responsibilities to the community, to each other, to the remains of their families elsewhere, and to posterity, Of Gods and Men provides no easy answers but is itself a partial answer to the question of what goodness really involves.

Comments

My favourite moment

My favourite moment in this film is when one of the monks is talking to a local young woman. He is able to empathize with her so beautifully and sensitively about what it feels like to be in love.

Rating: 
5

The empathy , even in the midst of diversity, inspires me.

I was so moved by the way the monks treated each other, the people who lived in the village, and even "the enemies" who were out to destroy them. How petty it makes some of my intolerances seem! They were loyal to the end!

 

Rating: 
5

Un momento sublime

Durante la Celebración de la Nochebuena, los Hermanos estan cenando Reunidos. De Fondo sueña La Música de El lago de los cisnes, ES UNA ESCENA diálogos pecado, Solo Se mantiene Con La Expresión de los Hermanos. Y en sus Información Rostros sí Refleja el Temor, La Felicidad porción Estar juntos y Tener Una Misión, el Sufrimiento, dolor del EL, la Compasión ... Es Una Escena sublime. CUANDO LA CAMARA SE detiene baño CADA UNO de OEN Rostros Podemos Experimentar Lo Que estan sintiendo y comprenderlos. ¡Me emociona ESE Momento!

Rating: 
0
Rating: 
5
Average: 5 (2 votes)
Year: 
2010
Country: 
Algeria