Analysis Paper on the movie, Of Gods and Men by Xavier Beauvois Essay

Analysis Paper on the movie, Of Gods and Men by Xavier Beauvois - Essay Example The Algerian countryside is a beautiful background for the awful events, happening there. To my mind, spirituality of monks and their ability to stay above vicissitude and wars and gain victory in the name of their highest goal is the most impressive context, shown by the director. There is a strong historical background of the events happening in the film. The Algerian war in 1992 took away lives of 200,000 people and the Islamists killed the whole families in the name of their power in the government and their right to be elected (Jonkas, 2011). Deaths of the Algerian monks were initially acknowledged by Islamists, but later the Algerian authorities acknowledged the responsibility for their deaths. This fact makes the film even more tragic and mystical. The monks were tolerant and their attitude for the army and for the Islamists was equal: all of them were brothers for monks. Algerian monks were helping the inhabitants of the villages to remain in safety and keep the Algerian military and Islamist terrorist as far as possible from the villages (Sabbadini and Di Ceglie, 2011). On the one hand, there is a strong religious conflict: because in spite of the fact that monks prayed for the world, it finally consumed them. After the tragedy Pope John Paul II appealed for the Cistercians in 1996: â€Å"He who loves his life will lose it, while he who hates his life in this world, will keep it for eternal life. If someone wishes to serve me let him follow me, and where I am there also will my servant be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him." (John 12:24-26). The Church is positioned as a Church of martyrs. There are evidences of death in the name of other people, even those one, who tortured these people earlier. The Trappists of Our Lady of Atlas, the Bishop of Oran, His Excellency Pierre Lucien Caverie and some of his sons and daughters on the African