Of Gods And Men

Brutal violence, questions of guilt and innocence, moral or immoral behavior saturates Of Gods and Men, as well as Beauvois’ previous oeuvres. This film aims to understand the mysteries of faith and its consequences in life. What is the reason – or reasons – behind the Trappist monks’ decision to stay in their convent, after the brutal assassination of a group of foreign workers by Muslim extremists? What does our human conscience or our faith urge us to do? Do we always have a choice and if so, what would make us choose the least favorable option? Is peaceful co-existence between different ethnic and religious groups possible?

Beauvois seeks to unveil the complexity in being true to faith, in part by displaying different kinds of fundamentalism. The contrast between peaceful interior monastery life and brutal contextual civil war could not be greater. The austere light in the monastery – making us think of both Dreyer and Caravaggio – and the beautiful scenery, compose the visual contrast, making this film a normatively and visually poignant history.

Premiere Status
Nordic Premiere: Orig. title
Des Hommes Et Des Dieux: Cast
Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale, Olivier Rabourdin, Sabrina Ouazani: Producer
Etienne Comar: Script
Xavier Beauvois, Etienne Comar: Cinematography
Caroline Champetier: Spoken language
Arabic, French: Subtitle
Swedish subtitles