Of Gods and Men

 

A group of monks find the limits of their faith being put to the test in Of Gods and Men, Xavier Beauvois' perceptive and subtly powerful new film. The film is set in Algeria, where growing unrest and violence forces a Cistercian brotherhood to reconsider both their position in the community and their vows. Lambert Wilson gives a wonderfully nuanced performance as Brother Christian, the staunch and unyielding leader, while Olivier Rabourdin is very touching as a man wracked with self-doubt, and Beauvois observes his characters with compassion as they make their agonising choice. The director imposes a stately pace on his film and relishes the quiet stillness of the monastery, spending plenty of time simply watching his characters as they work or eat together. Of Gods and Men can be a little heavy-handed in its storytelling at times, but the confident direction and strong performances ensure it is an absorbing experience, and the beautiful final shot ends the film on a haunting note. [Philip Concannon]