Of Gods and Men

This is an excellent film which examines the clash of Christian and Islamic ideologies from a different angle - within the gates of a Trappist monastery in a small village in Algeria.   The monks, who provide for the medical and spiritual needs of a nearby village, are confronted with the violence of an emerging civil war.  They must choose to flee or stay and face the violence.  The story is based on real world events in Algeria during the early 1990's.  It draws specifically from John Kizer's The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love, and Terror in Algeria (St. Martins Press, 2002).

The pace of the film, which highlights the monastic life, makes for a very introspective diversion from the typical Hollywood feature.  From a Catholic perspective, the film addresses many issues regarding the strength of faith and love in this violent world.

The film is rated PG-13 for some violence and is available in English subtitles.  More complete information is available at the IMDB here.