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A monastery perched in the mountains of North Africa in the 1990s. Eight French Christian monks live in harmony with their Muslim brothers. When a crew of foreign workers is massacred by an Islamic fundamentalist group, fear sweeps though the region. The army offers them protection, but the monks refuse. Should they leave? Despite the growing menace in their midst, they slowly realize that they have no choice but to stay... come what may. This film is loosely based on the life of the Cistercian monks of Tibhirine in Algeria, from 1993 until their kidnapping in 1996.
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94 of 95 people found the following review helpful
By John Holland
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
An extraordinary film in which actors grew into monks before my eyes and their predicament became real. I was immensely touched by the evident love which existed between the monks and the villagers they served and moved by the image in which the former were compared to a strong branch on which the frail could perch. That such affection and concern could exist between Christians and Moslems was I felt overwhelming. The scene where Luc advises the young girl on love was both amusing and moving and suggestive of the tender ordinariness of the relationships.
Finally the sense of spirituality which suffused the film conveyed often by the silence and immobility became palpable for me and left me with a memory which I am sure will endure.
Finally the sense of spirituality which suffused the film conveyed often by the silence and immobility became palpable for me and left me with a memory which I am sure will endure.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Keris Nine
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Blu-ray
What is refreshing about the popular and critical success of Of Gods and Men (winner the Grand Prix at Cannes 2010) is not that it is particularly experimental or challenging, but rather that it avoids going either for the populist crowd-pleasing angle or the tear-jerker that its real-life inspiration seems to demand. The film is based on a true story of a small community of Cistercian monks in Tibhirine in Algeria caught up in the country's political troubles during the 1990s. The monks regard it as their duty to bring aid and provide medicine for the local villagers who are suffering because of the local unrest and the battles between the national army and Islamic fundamentalists, but they risk incurring the wrath not only of the fundamentalists through their spreading of Christian beliefs, but also the Algerian army who believe that they may be giving aid and medicine to wounded militants.
It would be all too easy to let the divide that exists in this situation and the choice that is faced by the monks to remain simplistic - should they stay or should they go? Even though there are some reservations expressed, there is never any doubt that the monks will come to the logical Christian conclusion and stay. What is rather more impressive however is how the director refuses to allow this decision to be seen, as it would in a more conventional film, as simply an act of heroism or bravery. The situation is not exploited shamelessly for heavy-handed sentimentality as it would be in a Hollywood production, but rather it goes deeper into the qualities that lie behind courage and potential martyrdom. What the monks have to grapple with are their own doubts, their own flaws, their own fears - their very humanity.... Read more ›
It would be all too easy to let the divide that exists in this situation and the choice that is faced by the monks to remain simplistic - should they stay or should they go? Even though there are some reservations expressed, there is never any doubt that the monks will come to the logical Christian conclusion and stay. What is rather more impressive however is how the director refuses to allow this decision to be seen, as it would in a more conventional film, as simply an act of heroism or bravery. The situation is not exploited shamelessly for heavy-handed sentimentality as it would be in a Hollywood production, but rather it goes deeper into the qualities that lie behind courage and potential martyrdom. What the monks have to grapple with are their own doubts, their own flaws, their own fears - their very humanity.... Read more ›
92 of 94 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Des Hommes et des Deux (2010) 18
Of Gods and Men (2010) 18
Des Hommes et des Deux manages to tell a story and make you care about the characters whilst it exclaims its philosophy. It says what it has to say without preaching, which must be difficult in a movie where the main characters are monks in a subtle way. It is a modern masterpiece that doubtless will leave its message, and the complex issues that it raises, on the minds of people who have watched it for a long time.
Directed by Xavier Beauvois, the film is based on the lives of Cistercian monks in Algeria and there interaction with the local community in the 1990's during a time of great turmoil where Islamic extremists are taking over the village and according to one scene, the country, against everybody's dismay. The monks are constantly threatened by the presence of the fundamentalists and face a tough decision whether to stay or not as they are the backbone of the village and the only medical treatment the people of the village can gain access to.
The tone of the film does not attempt to portray the monks as all holy and is not quintessentially pro-christian. A lot of the film is the monks struggling with their own faith and each one of them attempt to deal with the events with their own conscience and the most powerful scenes are the ones with the monks sitting around deciding what they are going to do. The film, without actually vocalising it appears on all sorts of philosophical levels and manages to draw a line between the Islamic villagers feelings towards the monks and the terrorists. The main message of the film comes out as it being important to separate the ordinary Algerians with the terrorist uprising, it remains unsaid for much of the film however and is only alluded to once.... Read more ›
Of Gods and Men (2010) 18
Des Hommes et des Deux manages to tell a story and make you care about the characters whilst it exclaims its philosophy. It says what it has to say without preaching, which must be difficult in a movie where the main characters are monks in a subtle way. It is a modern masterpiece that doubtless will leave its message, and the complex issues that it raises, on the minds of people who have watched it for a long time.
Directed by Xavier Beauvois, the film is based on the lives of Cistercian monks in Algeria and there interaction with the local community in the 1990's during a time of great turmoil where Islamic extremists are taking over the village and according to one scene, the country, against everybody's dismay. The monks are constantly threatened by the presence of the fundamentalists and face a tough decision whether to stay or not as they are the backbone of the village and the only medical treatment the people of the village can gain access to.
The tone of the film does not attempt to portray the monks as all holy and is not quintessentially pro-christian. A lot of the film is the monks struggling with their own faith and each one of them attempt to deal with the events with their own conscience and the most powerful scenes are the ones with the monks sitting around deciding what they are going to do. The film, without actually vocalising it appears on all sorts of philosophical levels and manages to draw a line between the Islamic villagers feelings towards the monks and the terrorists. The main message of the film comes out as it being important to separate the ordinary Algerians with the terrorist uprising, it remains unsaid for much of the film however and is only alluded to once.... Read more ›
47 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By Father Brian
Format:DVD
I saw this film at the local film theatre. The spiritual journey of the community, from disagreement to unity of purpose, was stunning. The portrayal of their life, both together and within the local Moslem community,was gently unfolded. The sheer love between all concerned was vividly portrayed - and their love of God. It felt like a documentary rather than a drama with actors. It made me want to pray! The final chapter meeting to decide whether to stay or go revealed a depth of love and trust - in both God and each other - was a real revelation. The 'Last Supper' scene was so beautiful and the final scene was more to do with the heavenly journey than earthly death. I would be interested to hear what an atheist made of it. One last comment, as with so many none British/American films, it made me aware of how noisy 'commercial' films are. Watch it at night with everything else switched off - and no breaks for anythhing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational
This is an incredibly inspiring true story, so much so that i have shared with many of my friends. The screenplay and photocopy capture the beauty and the thought process of the... Read more
Published 10 days ago by YummyMummy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Film
I had heard a lot of positive comments from quite a few people that had seen this film. When I saw it myself, I knew I had to obtain a copy of this intensely moving film of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Meryl Dobson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Provoking film
I bought this as a present (having warned that it is a hard watch). I didn't know much about this conflict before, but I feel this addressed it very evenly.
Published 1 month ago by Efe Avan-Nomayo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Deeply moving
Deeply moving and at times I forgot that there were actors playing the parts of the monks. It all seemed so real in the film and of course even more poignant because it did happen... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sue Saville
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful film (in French with English subtitles)
The film moves at a leisurely pace. Down to earth and portrays 'real' life: not the American hero with guns blazing type of film.
Often very moving and sometimes quite funny. Read more
Often very moving and sometimes quite funny. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Don
5.0 out of 5 stars
Of gods and men
There was very swift delivery of this item. I love this film and though I have already seen it I want to lend it out around my friends. .
Published 3 months ago by Ms. Sheena Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars
HOLY MEN GOING TO THEIR DEATHS
the film shows Holy people trying to be holy against their ultimute destiny.gOOD SCENES IN FILM.
Racisim then takes its course
Racisim then takes its course
Published 4 months ago by DJ.OMAHONEY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant film.
If you can find Mark Kermode's review of this film, I highly recommend it. It's incredibly poignant and thoughtful, especially in the quiet scenes. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Paul Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
low-key and affecting
I had put off seeing this film because I feared it would be violent and confront me with the kind of scenes I don't like to see even in films, but in fact there is only one short... Read more
Published 8 months ago by schumann_bg
1.0 out of 5 stars
Tedious
Saw this recently when shown at our local film club and it occurred to me during the viewing that if those monks had taken the advice early on to return to France it would have... Read more
Published 9 months ago by P. Cory
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