I am a Christian. I think the reaction on this film may be different between those who have any religious belief and those who don't.
I don't know when and why a Catholic monarch, in which all monks are French, was established in an Arabic village of Algeria. But it seems the presence of the monarch was something important in the village. In fact one of the monks does medical service. Nevertheless, they are neither soldiers nor social workers nor missionaries, but they pray and work.
When it became reality that their life was in danger as Islamic extremists had come, they had to decide whether if they stay and continue praying at the place. Do we ever live here? Is there any difference in praying here or at other place? Is there any meaning in being killed here? Conversely, is there any meaning of living here? Not through logical thinking but through prayer, the monks pursued to find the answer, and they were led to deeper confirmation of their calling to follow Jesus. The last scene resembles the way of the cross of Jesus.
I don't know when and why a Catholic monarch, in which all monks are French, was established in an Arabic village of Algeria. But it seems the presence of the monarch was something important in the village. In fact one of the monks does medical service. Nevertheless, they are neither soldiers nor social workers nor missionaries, but they pray and work.
When it became reality that their life was in danger as Islamic extremists had come, they had to decide whether if they stay and continue praying at the place. Do we ever live here? Is there any difference in praying here or at other place? Is there any meaning in being killed here? Conversely, is there any meaning of living here? Not through logical thinking but through prayer, the monks pursued to find the answer, and they were led to deeper confirmation of their calling to follow Jesus. The last scene resembles the way of the cross of Jesus.