Of Gods and Men
2010
Directed by Xavier Beauvois
It's exciting to be so close to the end of the second part of this journey, with only 32 movies to go. Actually, now that I write that down, it still seems like a lot. Oh well, onward and upward, and this time we are really in for a treat. Personally, I can't think of a subject more fascinating than French monks.
French monks live a peaceful existence in Algeria, providing medical assistance to the community and performing daily rituals where they find their salvation. The threat of an Islamic terrorist group looms in the background, but the monk's leader, Christian, declines protection from the local corrupt civil authority. The monks are divided about whether to stay or go, but they feel a strong moral pull to stay.
I am not a religious person, and watching these men martyr themselves wasn't fun for me. And some of these scenes really dragged; I don't know many people that could make it through that "monks listening to classical music" scene without twitching. It was also very uncomfortable knowing where the film was going for its entire length.
Another arguably important film that I didn't enjoy at all.
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Mostly shot in an abandoned monastery in Morocco.
Once the screenplay was finished, it was sent to the relatives of the real monks for approval.
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