Review of Of Gods and Men (2010) by Tobias B — 16 May 2011

Of Gods and Men is one of those quiet films that is more about reflection, contemplation and realization than anything else. While not particularly a fan of any type of religious doctrine, this film to me was more about the idea of convictions and self understanding. A film that asks us to look at these people not necessarily for their religious beliefs (although of course that does play a large role in this film), but more (perhaps) to get us to ask ourselves what we would do if we found ourselves in a situation such as this and how far would we go if our own self truths were called into questions by persons/situations around us.

The writing and directing tried its best to show an even-handed approach to both the christian and Muslim ideas of faith and why they do what it is they do (all-be-it focusing more on the day to day of the monks themselves and how they attempted to live along side their Muslim neighbours in respect), and while one probably would be more likely to sympathize with one side more than the other by the end of the film, the characters themselves ultimately try to be written in a way as to not point the fingers directly at the other side in a general painting of all persons of that faith in one way, and indeed went out of its way to point out that those guilty of the ultimate course of this movie were not a representation of their faith at all.

I like the subtlety of the characters here. The scenes with the emotional and physical contemplation that needed little or no talking at all to convey what was occurring. Monks questioning their own faith, fear and ability to live on to (what was inevitably) their end.

While flawed in some respects (as it does not really go into any ideas of the history of the reasons behind either groups doing what it is they do, and so therefore in some ways it does paint the monks in a bit more of a ... right... point of view), for me, the film was more about personal journey, and for that I could respect the film a great deal (personal religious convictions aside).