Of Gods and Men

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S R 1001 movies to see before you die (Added 2011; Removed 2014). I saw this because my Catholic friend said it was his favorite movie. For me, I did appreciate its slow method to expose the viewer to monastery life and then contrast it with the Algier culture. It highlighted the importance of Monks and their commitment to their religious teachings, but it was not one that kept my interest. The cast was good though, bringing in some popular actors. It was an STG DVD. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/13/23 Full Review William L A Biblical test of faith played out in the modern era, when such sentiments are often thought to be relics. Instead of the stripped-down sentimentality of a Sunday School story, where men of God stand firm against those that threaten them through the power of their trust in the Almighty alone, Xavier Beauvois' film injects elements of pragmatism and personal doubt into the mix. Characters are left questioning their roles as they reflect on the sum total of their lives, their role in the community, and their relationship with God, while violence builds around them that threatens to spill over the walls of their carefully maintained monastery garden. The dedication to routine and worship are used well in the construction of the film itself, as a frequently encountered reference to the nature of the monks' lifestyle and personal commitment. Additionally, the thoughts on the futility of the conflict at hand (the religious underpinnings of the French Catholic v. Algerian Muslim disconnect, while a bit reductive in the colonialist, highly political history of the two nations) is not lost on the director, who uses the true-to-life work of Prior Christian de Chergé to emphasize the senseless brutality of religiously-motivated slaughter among men who worship the same god. Even then, the story does not shy away from the difficult relationship the monks have with both the rebel and military forces. Well-made, with nice on-location shooting and well-designed cinematography from Caroline Champetier. Certainly a bit slow, but it's difficult to make a refelctive film with a focus on a crisis of faith any other way. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/12/22 Full Review Audience Member What a fabulous film - powerful, with nuance and care. Despite its focus on a unique community, it conveys universal messages about what we do with our lives, the mundanity of it all, what it means to live and to face death well, and also this question about where God is and how we understand him in this challenging world. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Josh B In an age of instant gratification and abbreviated communications, this type of depth and lyricism might be lost. Often communicating through a sense of mood, this film is a deeply moving look into love and belief. A jewel of a movie. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/21 Full Review Audience Member shitty good islam propaganda Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Inspirational and thought provoking. With most films, you can't have both. You have to pick between the two. Not here. Not today. And that's why "Of Gods and Men" is so special. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Of Gods and Men

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