Of Gods and Men (2010)
"Des hommes et des dieux" (original title)

Under threat by fundamentalist terrorists, a group of Trappist monks stationed with an impoverished Algerian community must decide whether to leave or stay.

Director:

Xavier Beauvois

Writers:

Xavier Beauvois (adaptation), Etienne Comar (scenario)

Stars:

Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale, Olivier Rabourdin

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 12 wins & 23 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lambert Wilson	...	Christian
Michael Lonsdale	...	Luc
Olivier Rabourdin	...	Christophe
Philippe Laudenbach	...	Célestin
Jacques Herlin	...	Amédée
Loïc Pichon	...	Jean-Pierre
Xavier Maly	...	Michel
Jean-Marie Frin	...	Paul
Abdelhafid Metalsi	...	Nouredine
Sabrina Ouazani	...	Rabbia
Abdellah Moundy	...	Omar (as Abdallah Moundy)
Olivier Perrier	...	Bruno
Farid Larbi	...	Ali Fayattia
Adel Bencherif	...	Le terroriste
Benhaïssa Ahouari	...	Sidi Larbi (as Benaïssa Ahaouari)

Storyline

In 1996, in Algeria, eight French monks of The Monastery Notre-Dame de l'Atlas of Tibhirine have a simple life serving the poor community that was raised around the monastery. During the Algerian Civil War, they are threatened by terrorist but they decide to stay in the country and not return to France. One night, they extremists break in the monastery and abduct seven monks. A couple of months later, they are found dead in controversial circumstances.

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Plot Keywords:

monastery | monk | community | terrorist | algeria | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of graphic violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook [fr] Official site

Country:

France

Language:

French Arabic

Release Date:

8 September 2010 (France)

Also Known As:

De dioses y hombres

Filming Locations:

Morocco

Box Office

Budget:

€4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$308,895 (USA) (25 February 2011)

Gross:

$3,950,029 (USA) (1 July 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Why Not Productions, Armada Films, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The official French submission for the Foreign Language Film Award at the 83rd Academy Awards.

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Quotes

Christian: [Voice-over] Should it ever befall me, and it could happen today, to be a victim of the terrorism swallowing up all foreigners here, I would like my community, my church, my family, to remember that my life was given to God and to this country. That the Unique Master of all life was no stranger to this brutal departure. And that my death is the same as so many other violent ones, consigned to the apathy of oblivion. I've lived enough to know, I am complicit in the evil that, alas, prevails over ...

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: Horrible Bosses (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Cantique de Simeon (Sauve Nous Seigneur)"
Written by Lucien Deiss

User Reviews

A powerful, touching and luminous chef d'Oeuvre.

Des Hommes Et Des Dieux is a poignant movie about a part of our society. Unfairly knocked out of the Oscar short list representing Algeria by considerably mediocre ''Hors La Loi'', this movie is a powerhouse. What is really entertaining and amusing in a bunch of elderly people talking about society and morals? Xavier Beauvois is compelling and imposing, we believe in every single character, we believe in their honestly, their humanism. By being a so-called teenage/adult myself i really enjoyed this movie. The humanity and the authenticity of Beauvois's tale is breathtaking, the actor lead and supporting are true and brutally honest in their performance. This is the kind of movie that will spice up conversation around the world; this movie should have gotten nominated in the Oscar's because it is my favourite foreign movie this year so far. Thumbs Up to Xavier Beauvois, the actors and the humanity of this epic story.