I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

A close-to-universal acclaim, a 10-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Festival and as the most profitable French movie, no one saw 'Of Gods and Men" coming in 2010, but everyone eventually went to see it."Of Gods and Men" is the cinematically sober yet emotionally powerful chronicle of one of the saddest chapters of the Algerian Civil War in the 90's: the assassination of seven monks in the Atlas Mountains by an Islamist group that has nothing to envy from today's routinely barbarity that shake the Middle East without that generating much reaction. The mention of the context is crucial because any misinformed viewer might misunderstand the story's purpose and take it as another illustration of the Islam's innate barbarity. Indeed, this is one of these movies that might be appreciated for the wrong reasons.So, it's all to the credit of director Xavier Beauvois to play fair with the facts and not portray the crime as an isolated one, it's a part of a whole barbaric chain of events that blindly touched the whole of ALgeria. 1996 and 1997 were perhaps the darkest years of its history as hundreds of thousands of civilians, generally villagers were mercilessly killed and in the most gruesome way, hatchets, throat slit, and so forth. Of course, it would take half the review to enumerate the causes of these movements, the mujaheddin in Afghanistan sponsored by the CIA, and whose faction from Algeria had time to make their bones before coming back to Algeria, where the cancellation of the Islamist party rung like a Declaration of War.I think this secretly sponsored extremism is the real core of the problem (look at ISIS now), more than the tormented post-colonialism relationships. The citizenship of these monks had no more relevance than for the Croatian workers who were savagely assassinated under the sight of a poor Algerian. The only relevance the Algerian War might have is that Christian, the prior priest, played by Lambert Wilson, was a former military, who served in the War and thought he had to stay in order to establish some sort of reconciliation. But Xavier Beauvois doesn't waste the script to analyze each one's backstory, it's about eight priests who know their lives are at stakes, and must make a choice: leaving or dying.It's a story of an ethical conflict. The monks belong to a Cistercian order and they made a vow of stability. The threat is like the test of their own faith. Of course, the vow of stability mustn't be at the expenses of their own lives; the sacredness of life, let alone of these eight men, measure up to higher levels than the strict obedience to their vows. But the monks found God in the Atlas Mountains, they fulfilled their duty by providing medical care to the villagers, Michael Lonsdale, plays Luc, the elderly priest and doctor of the group. They also insist on not interfering with people's faith. In fact, Michel is as literate on Quran as on the Bible.The rest of their time consists on religious chants, prayers and deep contemplation. Still, Xavier Beauvois never tries to make them look pretty on the screen. No traveling or other shots, its mainly steady fixes where all you have to do is contemplate the monks, and watching them, absorbed by their thoughts and their doubts. This is a great choice as it allows the movie to embrace the very lifestyle of their protagonists, and allow us, as viewers to penetrate the moral conflict that drives the narrative. These stoic moments then becomes the foil to more powerful and thrilling scenes where they all discuss whether they should leave because of the threats. And they don't share the same views at all.Of course, the film isn't just all talking and contemplation and features many strong interactions with the Algerian people, from the military people who asked them to leave for their own good to the terrorists themselves. It's not one of these moments where you're wishing for the good guys to take the right decision, but where you understand what lies behind these very decisions. Why does Luc give medicine to terrorists? Why does he pray for the soul of one of them murderers? Why do they ignore the warning of the Army, exasperated to see them helping the terrorists? Well the answers to these questions are not given, but simply illustrated by their decision to stay. Their life has a meaning, and so will their death. It all leads to the point where the monks interpreted the threat as some test from God, as if it gave its full meaning to their presence in Algeria. Religion is all made of symbols, and they didn't just look at the risks, but at the way they perceived their duty on Earth, as if soul-preservation counted more than life. …. And that very soul they preserve is of the Christ. It's like the mystery of the incarnation finally revealing some of its mysteries. This is one of the few metaphysical moments of the film, but it's immediately followed by its beautiful emotional climax, a last dinner that carries the same resonance as Jesus' last supper; with the music of "Swan Lake" in the background.After having kept a restrained tone all through the film, shooting at respectful distance, we finally get the luxury of close-ups and music, as we can see these monks in full faces, smiling and shedding a few emotional tears, not because they just defied barbarity, it's not about proving their worth as soldiers as God, it's not even about testing the empathy required by their faith to its most sincere limit. It's because they're finally in peace with themselves.At a time where you couldn't necessarily triumph in the war against barbarity, you could at least be in peace with yourself, and that was enough a victory.

"Of Gods And Men" a.k.a "Des hommes et des dieux" is a French film that centers on the monastery of Tibhirine.During the civil war in Algeria in 1996,nine Trappist monks lived in harmony with a largely Muslim population until seven of them were kidnapped and died to unknown circumstances.It features a cast led Lambert Wilson and Michael Lonsdale.The title of the movie was taken from Psalm 82:6–7 that states, "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."It was also loosely based on the experiences of the Cistercian monks of Tibhirine in Algeria from 1993 until their kidnapping in 1996.This is a touching movie about a group of monks who live ordinary lives that goes through a tough test when the civil war in Algeria happened.Their faith was tested when they were kidnapped by religious extremists and they have shown they are willing to give their life for God and for self-sacrifice when religious violence occurred.It was also a good spiritual film that is compelling as it will allow the viewer to undergo self-introspection especially when it comes to their spiritual life and how much as they willing to sacrifice when it comes to God and this aspect of this life. It also deals very well with the negative effects of the hate that people have for each other due to differences in spiritual beliefs.Overall,we are treated to a good film about spirituality and religious hatred.

By my title I mean one needn't be religious to appreciate this film. I watched it in three forty minute sessions on consecutive nights. I recommend such viewing because the dialog really needs to be absorbed and the movie lacks the thrills, suspense, etc., that lesser two-hour movies rely on. It's kind of like a classroom that you have to come back to after being refreshed and with a lesson you have allowed to sink in after a day. If I may give it away, the individual Trappist monks, in their sessions with Christian, each give convincing arguments for their decision to stay the course. Again, you need not be a believer. The key teachings of this film are of conviction and the need to give meaning to one's life. Courage is merely a by-product of this exercise of this conviction. Pacifism really has little to do with the group's motivation and tragic end. I can only do justice to OF GODS AND MEN by quoting Keats, "Beauty is truth and truth, beauty."

One can react to a film in many ways including: intellectually, viscerally, emotionally, cognitively, spiritually and aesthetically. One's reaction to a particular film is the result of complex interactions of all of the above and the characteristics of the film itself. Certain films are more likely to bring out particular types of reactions. This film works on many levels and will draw out complex and individual responses from each viewer. My responses were heavily influenced by my being a member of Catholic men's religious order that has a long (and ongoing) history or missionary work that, at times, puts our men in danger. This was true in the centuries since our founding and remains true for a number of my friends who are working "undercover" in several countries. I first watched Of Gods and Men with another member of the order who had already seen it but wanted to share the video and the experience with me. We watched on a small not very good TV with wretched sound. But within moments of the opening all of that faded away. When it was over I sat in the dark room stunned. I know several Trappist monks. I admire their lives and occasionally retreat at one of the their monasteries. While their vocation to contemplative monastic life is not my vocation, the bond of being in religious vows allows us to share something fundamental and vital. I was stunned when I read about the killings in Algeria and followed the story closely in the papers. Before watching the film I read the very well-written The Monks of Tibhirine that supplied some back story and biographical information that was not included in the film, a great deal about the history of Islamic fundamentalism in Algeria and much history of the French in Algeria. The scenes during which the men were discerning God's will, both as a community and individually, ring true. The lack of consensus, the bickering, the fear, the acceptance and the gradual movement of the Spirit are the same for all orders when they engage in corporate discernment emerging from each member's individual discernment. Though forewarned by my buddy, the scene of Swan Lake playing in the refectory was emotionally wrenching. The looks on the men's faces as the music swirled and the sense of community returned could never be described in words. I've been as deeply moved and emotionally drained each time I've watched the movie since (about four times since the initial viewing a year ago). Quibbles about the lack of action are absurd. That is not the kind of life we lead as religious. Prayer, Mass, and contemplation (even in an active order) are the backbone of our lives together and as individuals. The combination of the honesty of the portrayals of the men's and the community's spiritual crises along with the sublime cinematography combine to make this an extraordinary film on all levels.