Of Gods and Men (2010) on Netflix
Christian and his fellow monks at Tibhirine in Algeria live in harmony with the Muslim villagers they serve. As civil war spreads, they must decide whether to stay or leave.
- Netflix3.4/5
- IMDb7.2/1016,856 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes92%
Trailer
Plot summary
In 1996, nine Cistercian monks live at the monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria, their days given to prayer and to medical care for the Muslim villagers around them. Christian, their elected leader, is one of the eight French monks there. When the Algerian Civil War brings an armed fundamentalist group into the region, Christian turns down the protection offered by the local civil authority. The monks divide over whether to stay with the people they have ministered to or return to France. Ali Fayattia, a fundamentalist leader, comes to the compound on Christmas Eve to demand their doctor and his medical supplies.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Of Gods and Men (2010)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- The film tells the story of seven French Trappist monks from the Tibhirine monastery in Algeria, kidnapped and found beheaded in 1996; the Armed Islamic Group claimed responsibility, but French secret service documents suggest the killings may have been a mistake by the Algerian army during a rescue attempt.
- The main filming location was the Benedictine monastery of Toumliline, which had stood unused and unattended for more than 40 years; the film's team, under production designer Michel Barthélémy, renovated it to resemble the site of the real events.
- To prepare for their roles, the actors playing monks were trained for a month in Cistercian and Gregorian chant by French choir director François Polgar, and each of them also spent a week living as a monk at the Tamié Abbey.
- At the 2011 César Awards the film won Best Film, with Michael Lonsdale named Best Supporting Actor and Best Cinematography also going to the film. It was nominated in eleven categories in total, more than any other film that year.
