Of Gods and Men

I had my first viewing of the French movie "Of Gods and Men" last evening. It won innumerable awards in 2010 and even if it were totally fictional, which it is not, it deserved them all for it's acting, music and cinematography. The setting is a French Trappist monastery in the mountains of Algeria during the 1990's. The monks are there to serve the people by providing medical care, employment and literacy assistance. Their lives are peacably intertwined with the Muslim villagers until both they and the villagers get caught between a corrupt military government and a group of radical Islamic insurgents. Sound familiar?

The Prior's knowledge of the Koran and the monks' medical care of wounded insurgents prevent them at least temporarily from being terrorized. The local governor demands they accept police occupation in the monastery, which they refuse, and to leave the country before they are taken hostage. After prayer, pleas from the villagers that they stay and deep soul-searching they all vote to stay... and are taken hostage. The movie ends with the unanswered question as to how they were killed, by the insurgents or the government.

The portrayal of monastic life and liturgy comes across as very authentic. Each of the actors had spent time in a monastry to prepare for the role. The chants are undoubtedly better than in most monasteries, because at least some of the actors are professional musicians.

I liked it most especially because it presents Christianity in an unvarnished fashion: we are here to serve and to pray, not necessarily to convert to our way of belief.