The answer is unquestionably yes, even though the premise seems unpromising: it's the mid-1990s, and we're in a small French monastery in the remote Atlas mountains of an unnamed North African country (let's call it "Algeria"). Civil war is fomenting, led by Islamic jihadists against the country's ruling secular government.
The seven or eight monks live a dirt-poor life in their local community, providing a free medical clinic and alms for the poor. Their possessions seem to consist of a brass communion wafer dish and wine goblet, an old Peugeot estate of uncertain vintage, and... No, that's about it.
As the carnage mounts around them and the violence begins to intrude into their own tranquil lives, the film is the story of their answer to the seemingly simple question: should they stay or should they go?
There have been several films on this theme, recently, exploring the dilemmas of the ex-colonialists who've been left behind (notably Claire Denis's film starring Isabelle Huppert, White Material).
But this one is the most gripping. The late film-maker Anthony Minghella said a good film was one which let you see the world for a couple of hours through someone else's eyes. Of Gods and Men takes you into the rhythm of the monks' lives, sharing their commitment and their doubts, their hopes and their ever-present fears.
The scenery is majestic and overwhelming: I love the Atlas and have spent many happy visits there (though not in this rather troubled part), and the landscape becomes a central part of the film -- it's the thing that binds all these people together.
In one sense there is a tragic ending here, as there must be. But in another, there is a triumph of humanity and the human spirit.
Of Gods and Men: highly recommended.
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