Review by Doug Cooper
Stars Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale, Olivier Rabourdin, Philippe Laudenbach, Jacques Herlin, Loic Pichon, Xavier Maly, Jean-Marie Frin, Abdelhafid Metalsi, Sabrina Quazani, Abdallah Moundy
Written by Etienne Comar & Xavier Beauvois
Certification UK 15 | US R
Runtime 121 minutes
Directed by Xavier Beauvois
This drama won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and is indeed a high quality product but there are caveats attached. In portraying the numbingly mild existence of a group of Cistercian monks in north Africa in the early '90s, the atmosphere is near somnambulent for portions of the time. They are kindly souls who want peace at all times and are involved in helping the local villagers. They have a market stall to hawk their wares and attend the odd social function so are not always cloistered away, but their procrastinating ways are soon to be shaken up.
What do they have to procrastinate about? Well, it's the issue of staying and continuing with their isolated but calming lifestyle or leaving their retreat to escape danger and imminent death. This comes from a band of Islamic fundamentalists who have already brutally slaughtered some Croatian builders. The French authorities are insistent that the priests leave for their own safety but the clerics take a fair while to deliberate over the matter. In that time they even aid one of their antagonists when nice Father Luc (Lonsdale), the doctor for the village, is forced to treat one of their number. Father Christian (Wilson), the leader of the monks, is all for staying but the others must make up their own minds. Should they stick together, sharing their love of god in solidarity with one another or split up and run away from the Muslim fanatics whom they know will eventually murder them? How would they cope in the outside world?
This beautifully filmed tale - the cinematography is glorious - is possessed of a poetic, fatalistic grandeur. At times, one is completely absorbed in their dilemma, but the languid pacing might not be for all tastes - one critic sitting in front of me at the screening I attended was constantly nodding off - but if you're of a patient disposition then this quietly affecting effort ends up a most rewarding experience.
There's a wonderful scene towards the end when the monks sit around the dinner table drinking red wine. They don't say anything as classical music is playing in the background, but the camera lingers on their faces - their smiles at tasting alcohol, the mixture of emotions they feel, the worry and torment as they come to an acceptance of their respective fates. We've gotten to know these good men and we have come to care about them. It's a perfectly judged sequence, exquisite in its simplicity. And this ensemble group of actors are all subtly superb. They deserve one big Oscar.
A slow burn overall then but if you're prepared to make the effort, a profound and powerful piece that deserves recognition. Excellent.