Faith is a tricky thing to show on film. Oftentimes, religiously-themed movies come off as heavy-handed propaganda that vilifies atheists, agnostics, or those who practice other religious beliefs. While the people behind these films might have the best intentions, faith-based films usually are more about the “moral of the story” than making sure they are telling a good story. As a Christian and a film enthusiast, I am disappointed that there have been so few great films about faith in recent years, and that is why a film like Of Gods and Men is so extraordinary. This is not praise bands and obvious Christ figures (*cough* Aslan *cough*), though I understand those have their place for some people of faith. Of Gods and Men tells a story of quiet dedication and servitude, and the film is all the more compelling for audiences with and without faith alike because the events are true.
Of Gods and Men opens in Algeria in the mid-1990s. The town's monastery led by Christian (Lambert Wilson) live in harmony with the local Muslim brothers, celebrating each others' joys and sorrows together. Their days consist of prayer, chores around the monastery, feeding and providing medical treatment for the poor, and singing psalms together in the chapel. Through their hard work and compassion for their neighbors, the monastery becomes a pillar of the community. Their world and faith is shaken, however, when a group of extremists start massacring people in the name of Islam. Together, the monks of the monastery must decide if they will flee to France or stay in Algeria and most certainly die.
One of the most striking elements in Of Gods and Men is how it recreates the rhythm of monastic life. The filmmakers capture the meditation in the monk's physical labor, the scheduled times for prayer and song, and the feeling of sharing everything from medicine to a meal. They spend many hours alone with their thoughts which is easier in good times, but as they all start to question their faith, the solitude of the monastery starts to feel more like the silence of God.
What I really appreciated about Of Gods and Men as a religiously-themed film was how it did not show faith as easy. The characters are facing impossible circumstances. Their faith dictates that they cannot harm these terrorists no matter what they have done, and at one point, the monks even provide medical care for one of the men. At the same time, their friends and neighbors are at risk, and they have every reason to hate these men and betray their calling to love. In one powerful scene, Christian is asked by the military to identify a body of one of the terrorists. The general tells Christian how soldiers had tied one of the terrorists' bodies to a car and dragged his body through town. Horrified, Christian asks the general how he could let his men do it, and the general looks back at Christian in disgust and says the monastery is too indulgent with the terrorists. After Christian identifies the body, he bows his head to pray for the man's soul, and the general tells him to get out.
One of the core principles of the Christian faith is that true Christ followers do not belong in this world. Many modern day Christians have unfortunately taken this ideal to mean that they should separate themselves further and refuse to accept a more diverse society with many different faiths. I believe that Of Gods and Men shows what it really means to be a Christ follower and not be “of the world.” Even though these monks abhor the actions of the terrorists, they are dedicated to show God's love and mercy indiscriminately, so they are not accepted by the soldiers. Through their love, they separate themselves from the world and its conflicts, and they make the ultimate sacrifice for it. Of Gods and Men tells the true story of these monks they way they lived their lives: quietly, humbly, and with a compassion and strength that could only come from a higher power.
Blu-ray Bonus Features
Special features on the Blu-ray release include the film's theatrical trailer, a featurette on the real-life monks, and a conversation with author John W. Kiser who wrote the book The Monks of Tibhirine which Of Gods and Men is based on.
"Of Gods and Men" is on sale July 5, 2011 and is rated PG13. Drama. Directed by Xavier Beauvois. Written by Xavier Beauvois, Etienne Comar. Starring Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale, Olivier Rabourdin.
