Xavier Beauvois’ “Of Gods and Men” is a quiet yet powerful meditation on human connection which transcends both religion and politics.
Based on a true story, eight French Christian monks (headed by Lambert Wilson, “The Matrix Reloaded”) live in harmony with their Muslim neighbors in Northern Africa.
Conflict arises once Islamic fundamentalists begin attacking foreigners. The monks must decided whether to remain in-country or return to their homeland.
The film, at times, resembles the solitude and silence of the monks’ lives, but the overall theme concludes with the amalgamation that defines each person’s worth via the love for one another. This true humanistic revelation ultimately surpasses dogmatic belief. B+
Ari Silber is a Loyola MBA student. Before graduate school, he worked for nine years in the Los Angeles film industry, focusing on marketing, publicity and distribution. He can be reached at
