Of Gods and Men is proof if it were ever needed that even today the essence of a great movie continues to be about the quality of the script and the acting. There is no computer generated wizardry here and no expensive film sets. Yet by drilling down to an astonishing level of detail Xavier Beauvois has expertly told the moving and ultimately tragic tale of a group of nine French monks in Algeria who get caught up in the country’s civil war in the 1990s.
Living in Peace
The actors who were cast to play the Trappist monks spent time in an abbey, learning Gregorian chants and living the monastic life alongside the resident monks. One of them even learned to pray for the first time in order to better understand his character.
In the movie the monks are shown as an integral part of the local rural community, providing medical help to the Arab population. Christians and Muslims co-exist peacefully and the monks are highly respected members of the village in which their order is based. The tranquility is shattered with the arrival of the insurgents yet the monks manage to dodge several dangerous moments before their inevitable capture.
Filming in Morocco
Filming Of Gods and Men in Algeria was never an option given the instability and danger in the rural parts of the country. Step forward neighboring Morocco, a country that has served as a double in movies perhaps more times than any other. The Tibhirine monastery to the south of Fez was chosen to serve as the monk’s home. It was now abandoned but had been used until the 1960s as a Benedictine-run meeting point between Christians and Muslims. The building was renovated to resemble closely its Algerian equivalent. Extra care was taken in dressing the extras who played local people in the movie in order to make them appear Algerian and not Moroccan.
Two monks escaped the kidnapping and one is still alive today. He was consulted during the production (along with the families of the others) and was said to be moved and very pleased with the way the brothers and their life together were portrayed.
Moroccan Contrasts
Travel to Morocco today and you’ll find a land full of contrasts and with a rich blend of present and past Arabic culture. While many visitors head to the souks and the big-city chaos of Marrakesh and Casablanca, there are plenty of places to find your own bit of peace and quiet. Head into rural Morocco and you’re likely to discover with pleasure just why this was considered a perfect setting for monastic life.
Photo | Ps2613
[Adapted from a post on PassportToIberostar.com]
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