The Cannes Jury’s 2010 Grand Prix winner, this sublime French drama is tender and quietly terrifying, deeply beautiful and genuinely inspirational. Based on the story of an Algerian monastery taken by Islamic fundamentalists in 1996, it contrasts the idyll of the monks’ gentle lives, and their popularity with local Muslims, with the abrupt violence of being caught between a corrupt government and implacable extremists. The monks, held together by Christian (Lambert Wilson), wrestle with faith and fear, ultimately embracing whatever comes in their mission “to be brothers to all”. Superb performances and intense but restrained direction deliver profound food for thought in the ongoing global conflict of -isms. It has great tunes, too, chant-wise.
Of Gods And Men Review
Tibhirine, Algeria. 1996. A Trappist monastery is stormed by members of the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria. The monks, lead by the implacable Christian (Wilson), are left caught in the middle of a stand-off between the terrorists and an equally extreme Algerian government.
Release Date:
03 Dec 2010
Running Time:
122 minutes
Certificate:
15
Original Title:
Of Gods And Men
Xavier Beauvois's Cannes winner is a spellbinder drama about courage and faith and a fascinating take on global extremism.
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us