This French movie is one of those unexpected success stories that no one saw coming. Who would run to the theatre to spend a couple of hours with monks in Algeria, monks in the midst of the civil war that took place in the 1990s, monks who decided to stay in their monastery anyway and eventually were murdered? An incredible amount of people did – as the movie introduces us to each of those men, their faith, their torments and doubts, their prayers. Although the violence and tension grew around them, their inner peace increased also as they felt their mission in the midst of the terrorized villagers was not over.
They were aware their situation was precarious – the very root of the word prayer from Latin, as a book written by Michael Lonsdale (who interpreted Brother Luc) explains[1]. In this book, Michael commented on his experience in this movie. He was told when he started acting “as an actor, you will confide in the world about who you are more than you ever will in your personal life”. He felt this was never as true than in this role.
“Why be martyrs? One of the monks feverishly asked Christian, the leader of the small community. For God ? To be heroes ? To prove we’re the best ?”
“No, no, no… Christian answers. We are martyrs out of love, out of fidelity. If death overtakes us it will be despite ourselves. Up to the end, we’ll try to avoid it. Our mission here is to be brothers to all… Remember that love is eternal hope…. Love endures everything. »
The monks were taken then killed in circumstances that were never fully understood. I have heard said “sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes God calms us in the midst of the storm.” The serenity of those men as danger came ever closer surpasses our human understanding. The movie offers us to share this peace, this peace we all crave, through those limpid images.
Being a martyr is first being a witness. Both words come from the same Greek root, martus. Through this movie, the journey of the monks of Tibhirine inspires us and become ours.
The monks were taken then killed in circumstances that were never fully understood. I have heard said “sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes God calms us in the midst of the storm.” The serenity of those men as danger came ever closer surpasses our human understanding. The movie offers us to share this peace, this peace we all crave, through those limpid images.
Being a martyr is first being a witness. Both words come from the same Greek root, martus. Through this movie, the journey of the monks of Tibhirine inspires us and become ours.
[1] Michael Lonsdale, “Prière”, conversation with Jacques Bonnadier, Editions Onesime, p.20
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