Of Gods and Men

(source: tmdb.org)

In 2011, during the census, many Croatian households dreaded the arrival of officials who would, under threat of heavy fines, extract from household members answers to questions of the most intimate nature and force them to think carefully while doing so, lest with “wrong” words in the eyes of fools – of whom there has never been a shortage in these unhappy part of the world – they bring upon themselves the stigma of being enemies of God, the nation, and the state. The dilemma of whether to say what is “proper” or what one truly feels, however, seems insignificant compared to the dilemma faced by the protagonists of the film Of Gods and Men, a French feature film crowned with Grand Prix at Cannes and other awards.

The plot of the film, among other things, shows the consequences of the first attempt to implant the fragile plant of democracy onto the soil of North Africa, namely the multi-party elections in Algeria whose annulment in the early 1990s triggered a long and bloody civil war between the secular government and radical Islamists. All these turbulent events, however, do not overly concern a handful of French Cistercian monks living in the Trappist monastery of Tibhirine, nestled in the Atlas Mountains, who lead a simple life in harmony with the local Muslim population, to whom Brother Luc (Michael Lonsdale) provides free medical services. One of the signs that this harmony will come to an end is the attack by Islamist guerrillas on a nearby construction site where Croatian workers are brutally slaughtered. It is clear to everyone that the monastery and the monks will become the next target, so evacuation to a safer place presents itself as a logical option, something even the authorities themselves suggest in a friendly manner. The dilemma of whether to leave or stay becomes even more pressing after guerrillas burst into the monastery in search of medical help, after providing which the monks clam up even towards the army that is supposed to protect them. The leader of the monks, Father Christian (Lambert Wilson), like his brothers, is torn between fulfilling the monastic mission and trying to avoid the increasingly likely martyrdom.

Based on real events (including the massacre of the Croatian workers) that have never been fully clarified, Of Gods and Men can boast not only excellent reviews, but also surprisingly good box office in its homeland. Some critics have sought to interpret this by suggesting that the French audience liked a film in which their compatriots, for a change, are portrayed as martyrs whose sacrifice represents a kind of redemption for the colonial past. The rest of the world, however, will be much more reserved towards this film, even though its screenwriter Étienne Comar, partly inspired by his Catholic faith, sought to give it a universal character, portraying the Atlas martyrs as an embodiment not only of Christian, but also of ecumenical ideals. Director Beauvois complements this by showing the monks as harmless and likeable old men whom no one except the most bigoted minds could perceive as a threat to anyone’s faith or way of life. In this he had considerable help from a very good cast led by the almost unrecognisable Lambert Wilson and the always reliable and relaxed Lonsdale. The story sought to be rounded out with a detailed reconstruction of life in the monastery, as well as monastic rituals.

Because of this, Of Gods and Men is a very good and impressive, but not perfect, film. Unlike the French audience, which, due to the large Algerian diaspora, has a far better idea of what was happening in Algeria, other viewers will have to piece things together due to the lack of historical and political context. The rhythm of the film is also quite slow and the ritual scenes may seem repetitive and unnecessary to many, and even the scene towards the end, in which the monks enjoy Tchaikovsky and bottles of wine, feels artificial and too “cinema-like” for a work that in style belongs more to docudrama. Despite this disappointment towards the end, Of Gods and Men can certainly be recommended, especially to the more demanding audience who like works that provoke thought, even about some uncomfortable topics.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

(Note: The text in the original Croatian version is available here.)

Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/ InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo

LeoDex: https://leodex.io/?ref=drax Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax InLeo: https://inleo.io/signup?referral=drax.leo Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax 1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e

BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7 BCH donations: qpvxw0jax79lhmvlgcldkzpqanf03r9cjv8y6gtmk9

Of Gods and Men captured my attention when the trailers first hit my local Indie theater. The film purported to tell the true story of a group of Trappist Monks who lived among a Muslim community in Algiers. The events take place between 1995 and 1996. Of Gods and Men won the Grand Prix at Cannes, 2010.

Of Gods and Men opens with a scripture from Psalms 82, from which the film draws its title:

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.

The subdued story examines the spartan lifestyle of the monks along with their interaction with the local community. The monks provide for their own sustenance, while treating their local community to free health care and small gifts of charity.

A combination of corrupt government and the emergence of al-Jama'ah al-Islamiyah places the monks in a precarious situation. The government wants the monks to leave (a symbol of lasting French influence) while they could possibly become the target of growing violence from the extremist group. The local Muslims view the monastery as their "branch." Without the monks, they lose their footing. The monks struggle with their decision to leave Algeria or remain among their Muslim friends.

The monks ultimately decide to stay and await a fate that is uncertain, at best. When one of the terrorist leaders is declared dead, the monks realize that their protective shield may be gone, as well. In an eerie celebration of their solidarity, the monks take a last meal, while they listen to a tape of Swan Lake. The emotion in the room is palpable. Soon after, the monks meet their destiny, reduced to tools of negotiation between the terrorists and the French government.

Of Gods and Men is a very subtle film. It is muted and often seems mundane. We watch the monks as they carry out their daily ritual. Whether it is the ritual of praying and singing or the ritual of work, laboring in the garden or treating patients in their makeshift clinic. While the story progresses with a measured pace, it never really feels slow, but the pacing does lack punch. Part of that quality of the film is a product of projecting the feel of the monastery while providing a level of familiarity with the individual monks. They are complex and different, yet share the same passion. Sometimes they are unified, and others they are conflicted. Because the film is based on a true story, the film carries more meaning. The film makes the characters and events personal.

Cast:
Lambert Wilson as Christian
Michael Lonsdale as Luc
Olivier Rabourdin as Christophe
Philippe Laudenbach as Célestin
Jacques Herlin as Amédée
Loïc Pichon as Jean-Pierre
Xavier Maly as Michel
Jean-Marie Frin as Paul
Abdelhafid Metalsi as Nouredine
Sabrina Ouazani as Rabbia
Abdallah Moundy as Omar
Olivier Perrier as Bruno
Farid Larbi as Ali Fayattia

Giving nine monks personalities and making their story engage the viewer can require diligent writing. This film does a decent job of introducing the monks, but their ability to engage the audience seemed more a product of the casting. The casting allowed the actors to tell part of the story through their (often limited) dialogue. The lead role, Christian, is easier to identify with as the film centers on his role within the group. Lambert Wilson gives the role a sense of intelligence, warmth and depth. He is supported by a group of actors that infuse warmth, reality and passion into each monk while giving them a sense of individuality. It was a nice balance that I tribute primarily to the casting.

Of Gods and Men will not be a film for everyone. The film could sensationalize the subject matter. In real life, the monks were beheaded. This could have been dramatized and used for shock effect. You never learn about that event from the film. Instead, we learn about the monks and the impact they had on their community. We learn about their perseverance, their conviction and their desire for peace. The contrast between their peaceful existence and violent death is reconciled in a letter written by one of the monks to end the film. It is reflective, bringing a sense of completion to an otherwise senseless act of violence. The film diligently presents the subject matter without finding a soapbox to stand on. It was a balanced, thought provoking film. I found it slow at times, but not laborious. 8/10.

Reviews

Comments

1 more review