Abandoning the historical dimension of a Maghreb threatened by terrorism, "Of Men and Gods" focuses on the philosophy of life of eight Cistercian monks living in quasi-autarky to midst of this terror through ambiante.A this film, Xavier Beauvois depicts the need for meaning but also the apprehension of death experienced by every human being.
Having donated their one God, the eight monks find themselves cooped up in a high above ground, work the land, care for people living nearby the monastery and the rhythm of the prayers. Their movements are ephemeral and walls that surround them are spiritual boundaries. Yet the terrorist threat disrupts this framed and ascetic life. The walls of the monastery are transformed gradually into physical limit, protection against external danger which disturbs a life cut voluntarily in the world. One can not help thinking of "The Plague" by Camus, this micro-society threatened by a chaos that must call into question their habits and aspirations.
Make a radical life choice, give themselves a goal and stick to land, such is the perpetual quest looking for these eight monks. But the only choice does not really believe it. The terrorist threat has arisen as a challenge to these choices, questions of land from each of the monks. Community and personal will confront. The organization of the monastery was then taken to the extreme, speeches and discussions become societal religious because there included the earthly world (should they stay or leave, despite the terrorist?).
Upon reflection, it is the acceptance of death or at least the victory of eternal life offered to God and takes over. The serenity to face death only acquired by the discovery of an objective and a strong belief, religious or land, such is the moral of this movie. In the final plan, the coolness of the monks walking towards death is the proof.
The last meal illustrates this renaissance monks. Their land by choice, they have become children of God, regardless of their destiny on Earth they won the Paradise. Now, free to all of us to define the practical sense, to bring in his own reality.
"Of Men and Gods", like the films of Bresson, Man films in his stoic and modest size. The actors convey a message, they recite more than they play. The strength of this film lies in the universality of its message. No need to believe in something in order to learn a life lesson.
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