Of Gods and Men
There are few movies I am still thinking about several days after seeing them. One such movie is Of Gods and Men, the superb French movie about the martyrdom of seven French Cistercians from the small monastery of Notre Dame de l'Atlas in Algeria in 1996, in the midst of the Algerian civil war. This movie was a sensation in France, playing to large audiences and winning numerous awards, but it did not earn even an Oscar nomination, perhaps because it presents such a positive view of Christianity, showing us men who live out the hardest parts of the Faith, the parts about forgiveness and loving your enemies and taking up your Cross.
I will not say more, since George McCartney is reviewing the film for an upcoming issue of the magazine (June). But if you have the chance to see Of Gods and Men, you should take it.
Entries(RSS)
Oscar for what? Best Foreign Language Film? That's the prize won by euthanasia pop propagandum The Sea Inside (the same year, one should add that nihilistic trope Million Dollar Baby got Best Picture). Thank God this movie did not end up in the same category. That would have been a profanation of the memory of these priests.
But an Oscar in general is little more than a badge of shame. What was the last good movie or TV show that actually won an Academy Award? (Granted, there haven't been many good TV shows for a while, but there have been lots of worthwhile movies, though one must dig around a little to find them.)
(Titanic? I relished the late Joe Sobran's massacre of that atrocity. That article and its fiery Roman Catholic author were praised by a self-described fundamentalist Baptist. Literally awesome.)
Thanks for the heads-up, Tom.
I think Mr. Piatak overestimates the anti-Christianity in Hollywood, particularly given that Doubt was nominated for an Oscar.
Doubt is a movie about pedophile clergymen...
It was about a little something more, and Mr. Piatak himself gave it a favourable review.
You are right, he did give it a favourable review.
Still, Doubt seems less representative of Hollywood than films like Stigmata, The Body, and so forth.
Thank you Mr. Piatak for your: showing us men who live out the
hardest parts of the Faith. While it is not an offense to me,
women might also have been added. But I understand, though not
having seen the film you speak of, it was one of men's plight.
NGPM: Your comment I agree with. Directors and movie actors
appear over time to be merely living out on film what they
feel would be an answer for others in their own quest for
humanistic humanitarianism supplying answers to the unknowing.
Yes Newton Minnow's quote was a prophecy, was it not?
I would recommend Debbie Schlussel's review of the film. Debbie is an intelligent Orthodox Jew and movie reviewer, who is fluent in five languages, including the two in the film.
I would recommend the five-part essay by Steven Greydanus that does a good job replying to criticisms such as those made by Ms. Schlussel (although it does not reply to her directly - probably he has never heard of her). Schlussel's objections are not without some validity, but they are clearly informed mostly by a neoconservative perspective rather than a Christian (obviously) or even a traditional Jewish viewpoint.
Mr. Kabala,
Yes, Steve Greydanus' five-part essay is outstanding, as was his original review of the film, which may be found here: http://www.decentfilms.com/reviews/ofgodsandmen
9) Judas Maccabees is the traditional Jewish viewpoint and part of the Catholic canon. There is the right to self-defense, in the manner of the last Byzantine Emperor.
Mr. Nicoletti,
Debbie Schlussel's review of "Of Gods and Men" is a bad joke. She asserts that the movie was made by Moslems. It was not. She asserts that the facts were shaped to be more favorable to Moslems. They were not. More significantly, she states, "In watching this movie, I’m so glad that turning the other cheek isn’t a recommended concept in my particular religion." It is odd, to say the least, to turn to a reviewer who is disdainful of Christianity to understand a movie about Christianity.
The monks depicted in "Of Gods and Men" do what monks have done for centuries: they seek to follow Our Lord and to follow the evangelical counsels literally. However much this may annoy Ms. Schlussel, they take to heart Our Lord's daunting words as recorded in the fifth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel:
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.
40
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.
41
Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.
42
Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
43
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
45
that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
46
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?
47
And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?
48
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Mr. Piatak: That is one great comment. I will get that movie on Netflix as soon as I can.
Mr. Piatak: Yes, it was unintentionally humorous that she saw the names of apparent Muslims among the technical crew (inevitable in a movie filmed in Morocco) and concluded that this meant the film was "made by Muslims."
These types echo one another from age to age. 80 years before the trappists monks were murdered, there was a lone hermit who suffered the same type of martydom from the same sort of folks. I have mentioned him before on this blog. His biography is also worth reading in understanding this part of the world.
Charles Eugène de Foucauld (Strasbourg, 15 September 1858 – Tamanrasset, 1 December 1916) was a French religious and priest living among the Tuareg in the Sahara in Algeria. He was assassinated in 1916 outside the door of the fort he built for protection of his Tuareg neighbors and is considered by the Church to be a martyr.
Thank you, Mr. Piatak, for the recommendation.
Muslims were part of the production company, the assertion is technically true. One is not obliged to reject the protection of the secular socialist government of Algeria. (Romans 13) Matthew 5 is our obligation in love to seek the conversion of our enemies, who deny the Incarnation. A new covenant begins at the Cross, but Marcionism is a heresy. In love, Urban II sought to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land. It may not be the duty of Cistercians to fight, but it is the duty of the state to protect those who pray and there aid should not be rejected, if offered. The founder of the Cistercians was the principle voice of the Second Crusade.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, ora pro nobis Deum.
Richard,
I read Ms. Schlussel's review ,
"there were touching scenes of the monks in this movie and they seem truly saintly. But their sacrifice seems stupid and all for nothing. It was beyond nauseating and over the top when a sickly murdered monk–who had provided free medical services for this entire village of Muslims who did nothing to save his life–tells us how “Islam is a body and a soul,” whatever that means, and then thanks his killers, the Islamic terrorists. Barf. In watching this movie, I’m so glad that turning the other cheek isn’t a recommended concept in my particular religion. Religions that do that, ultimately run out of cheeks, lives, and, most importantly, congregants.... There’s a reason that Islam is on the rise worldwide, while the other religions–most of whom refuse to adequately defend themselves and their adherents–are dying out."
She is 175 degrees wrong about grace and the monastic life, but is probably correct about their Christian counterparts in the world who have refused to defend the faith against destroyers. But as Pat Buchanan said a long time ago, "It is hard to defend against a great religion with no religion."
Would the phrase "Islam is a body and a soul" come from St. Louis, St Ignatius, St Bernard, St. Thomas Aquinas or any Catholic prior to 1958? Once again, Catholicism is not Marcionism.
there were touching scenes of the monks in this movie and they seem truly saintly. But their sacrifice seems stupid and all for nothing. It was beyond nauseating and over the top when a sickly murdered monk–who had provided free medical services for this entire village of Muslims who did nothing to save his life–tells us how “Islam is a body and a soul,” whatever that means, and then thanks his killers, the Islamic terrorists. Barf.
When I expressed exactly the same sentiment to a couple of my fellow Marcel Lefebvre disciples, they could scarcely believe I didn't like the movie. Yes, Mrs. Schlussel is dead wrong about the meaning of "turning the other cheek," but this particular interpretation of that doctrine was both heretical and suicidal.
The positives of the movie are 1. the fact that the monks are clearly culturally and spiritually superior to the Muslims around them and this despite the film's seeming desire to proclaim otherwise and 2. its stoking of discussion about and interest in Christian iconography in France, especially bewilderment as to why there wasn't any Gregorian Chant (which may prompt some to seek it out).
Richard,
I will see the movie and then answer. I take it for granted that Catholics view Islam as a heresy and the monk was a martyr. Islam having a body and soul does not offend me any more than heretics having a body and soul offends me.
NGPM,
I tend to trust your judgement in these matters and will see the movie. The significant death of a just man is not dimininshed in my mind because he immitated the types before him. Monks are not soldiers or laymen. A crusading knight in defense of pilgrims to the Holy Land would have had a different duty than a contemplative monk. Unity does not imply uniformity in a Christian culture.
Precisely my point. Words that once would have shocked, no longer do. We have grown accustomed to words devoid of meaning.
According to the ex-DGSE deputy director Pierre Siramy, the massacre of the monks in question was orchestrated by the Algerian military as a means of undercutting the public appeal of the FIS and of pressurizing the French government to more fully support the military regime against the FIS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpIo20-I0z0
Richard,
"Words that once would have shocked, no longer do."
Testimony must be interprted and the best way to interpret it is from what the person means by the use of words. A stranger to golf might look in vain finding the bones of a dog leg on a golf course even after hearing those experienced with the game express dismay about their existence. I have not seen the film but would feel more comfortable responding after I view it. In the mean time I don't think it is outside our traditions to view the word, body, in more than one sense. It was St. Thomas himself who answered with great seriousness the question, "Does God have a body?" The profundity of the question itself has been the occassion of grace and even conversion for many moderns who have mistaken the quantitative side of experience for the whole of reality.
I assume the testimony of the monk before his death was honest and should be understood in the light of a martyr rather than a conflicted theologian interpreting post Vatican II exaggerations. But I very well could be wrong and will defer to your judgements until I experience the film for myself.
Robert,
Here is the testimony of Christian de Cherge, the prior of the monastery: http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/LASTTEST.HTM
I had the good fortune to see the movie again yesterday. Anyone who refuses to see this movie because it does not fit into his ideological framework is impoverishing himself.
I think Steve Greydanus, at the end of his five-part series on the film referred to by Mr. Kabala above, got it exactly right: "After five posts, what more can I say? I’ve already stated that Of Gods and Men powerfully expresses the beauty and attractiveness of lived Christian faith in its theological and liturgical richness and uniqueness more memorably and appealingly than any dramatic feature film I can think of in up to a quarter century, and that it is exceptional in offering a portrait of lived Christianity that is wholly positive. To that, I will add that it does these things about as memorably and powerfully as any film I can think of. It has no rivals I can think of in the last quarter century, and few peers in the history of cinema."
"I will make a stronger statement still. There are not many outstanding films—I could probably count them on the fingers of one hand—of which I could say to an inquirer, “You want to know what it means to be a Christian? You want to know what following Jesus is all about? Watch this film.” Of Gods and Men is one of the few, and one of the best."
Tom,
Thank you for the response. There was another French Film a few years ago, INTO GREAT SILENCE, that is a good film about the Carthusian house in the French Alps, The Grand Chartreuse. A college classmate and fellow Okie is the sacristan for the community. I believe he has been a professed Carthusion for about twenty years. I had the rare privilege to serve one of his private Masses when he was at the Charterhouse in Vermont. I think it is quite good and worth a look for those with a serious interest in film. Of course it took the community five years to decide if it should be done at all and even then, there were several monks who could have cared less. But, a good film none the less for those who might be interested.
Robert,
Thanks for the recommendation. I intend to watch "Into Great Silence." Several critics have noted a similarity between the two films. "Of Gods and Men" certainly gives the viewer a flavor of monastic life, rooted in the "ora et labora" of St. Benedict. Someone calculated that some 15% of the dialogue consists of the monastic chants shown in the movie.
Mr. Piatak,
Thank you for the link to his testimony. After reading it, I see that First Things has finally published something worth reading. Secondly after reading the following statement"I ask them to be able to associate such a death with the many other deaths that were just as violent, but forgotten through indifference and anonymity." , I would just like to say, "George Weigel, call the office."
Robert,
You are most welcome.