Anytime I go into a movie knowing it won the Cesar (France’s equivalent to the Oscar) for Best Film, I can be pretty confident that it’s going to be excellent. Probably even more so than with films that have won the Oscar for Best Picture. Of Gods and Men, the 2011 Cesar winner, is certainly no exception.
The ensemble cast is simply phenomenal, with Michael Lonsdale (Munich) deservedly winning the Cesar for Best Supporting Actor and two others (Lambert Wilson and Olivier Rabourdin) also receiving nominations for their work. The film was also France’s official submission for the Foreign Language Oscar but was left off the final nominations list. The Academy has always made some pretty curious choices regarding their Foreign Film selections. Or is that just me? I digress.
Of Gods and Men tells the true story of nine Trappist monks stationed at an Algerian monastery in the mid-1990s. They lived in harmony amongst the largely Muslim population, but when faced with terrorist threats they must decide whether to stay or leave.
There’s a fine line between finishing what you set out to do and committing yourself to martyrdom. What does it mean to be a free man? And is that freedom worth dying for? These are just a few of the questions explored in Of Gods and Men. I am not a man of faith, but this film really helped me understand those who are and in no way made me feel alienated.
The film will undoubtedly get slapped with the dreaded “slow” label because it takes its time in a way rarely seen in today’s movies. Director Xavier Beauvois uses long takes that follow the monks through their duties at the monastery and on several occasions shows the monks singing hymns for minutes on end. It may seem ponderous at times, but the film effectively provides us a glimpse of the peaceful lifestyle the monks live and are now struggling to maintain.
A number of scenes reminded me of 12 Angry Men as they sweep you up in the group’s deliberation. Each monk’s testimony has the power to change your opinion of how the monks should handle this dilemma. And through it all, the film maintains a high level of intensity that culminates with a powerful climax set to “The Dying Swan.” Yes, that means Black Swan wasn’t the only film from last year to use the song to great dramatic effect.
The special features on this Sony Pictures Classics DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack are rather sparse. There is an interesting featurette that follows screenwriter/producer Etienne Comar as he meets with relatives of the monks, consults with them on casting, and digs up some old letters sent from the monastery. Other than that, all we get is a 40-minute conversation with John W. Kiser, author of the book The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love and Terror in Algeria. Kiser played no part in the film’s development but his knowledge certainly aids in understanding the events that inspired it.
Of Gods and Men also won the Cesar for Best Cinematography and the presentation here is exquisite. The landscapes are breathtaking and each moment of dissonance is felt to its fullest by the vivid details on each character’s face. But as much as it pains me to say this, considering it’s such a gorgeous transfer of a great film, I can’t imagine myself or anyone else feeling the urge to return to it enough times to warrant a purchase. By all means, rent the Blu-ray. It’s a must-see disc, even if it isn’t necessarily a must-own.
