‘Of Gods and Men’ practices what it preaches
By John Soltes
Of Gods and Men, a celebrated winner at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, is an impassioned tale of unbridled faith in the face of unknowing violence. It’s a powerful film that smartly lets the beliefs of its subjects (Trappist monks living in hostile Algeria in the 1990s) inform the way in which the story is told. This could be one of the first dramas in the new genre known as monastic cinema, a film that not only details the life of a monk, but also respects the silences and thoughtfulness of the religious life.
Lambert Wilson gives a towering performance as Christian, one of the monks living a simple life on the hills of northern Africa. They cater to the local population, whether Catholic or not, by administering medical help, financial guidance and spiritual renewal. In their own rituals, the monks pray and contemplate, waking up for early vespers and selling their homemade wares at the local market.
It would be a bucolic life of manageable poverty if not for the warring factions of bandits in the area and the corrupt military officials, most of whom have deep prejudice against the history of French occupation and Christianity’s evangelizing efforts.
The monks, faced with looming danger, must decide whether to leave the locals to their despair and head back to France, or stay and rely on the power of the Lord. The decision proves to be the central conceit of the 120-minute drama, though I shall remember Of Gods and Men more for its quiet moments of brave dignity.
Whether it’s Wilson’s portrayal of a Christ-like monk, unwilling to let anyone with guns enter the monastery, or Michael Lonsdale’s equally touching performance as an aging monk who serves as the community’s doctor, Of Gods and Men finds its strength in solemnity. For this, much credit should be given to Xavier Beauvois, who adapted the story and directed the film. His unwillingness to overdramatize what is a highly dramatic story is admirable. By holding back and letting the power of the monastery shine through, we become colleagues of these monks, almost as if we are invited to share a meal with them or sing vespers in the morning.
By the film’s end, we similarly face questions of faith, much like the real-life characters on the screen.
The landscapes that Of Gods and Men is able to capture are beautiful. With a story that relies heavily on the visual image, Beauvois knows how to paint with the cinematic lens.
The film is a respectable testament to the men who fought so bravely in this solitary monastery in northern Africa. And how did they fight? Well, by not fighting at all.
Of Gods and Men
2011
Written and directed by Xavier Beaufois
Starring Lambert Wilson and Michael Lonsdale
Running time: 122 minutes
Rated PG-13 for a momentary scene of startling wartime violence, some disturbing images and brief language
In French, with English subtitles
Bubble score: 4 out of 4
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