Under threat by fundamentalist terrorists, a group of Trappist monks stationed with an impoverished Algerian community must decide whether to leave or stay.
In 1996, in Algeria, eight French monks of The Monastery Notre-Dame de l'Atlas of Tibhirine have a simple life serving the poor community that was raised around the monastery. During the Algerian Civil War, they are threatened by terrorists but they decide to stay in the country and not return to France.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In 1995, a group of Trappist monks reside in the monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria, where they live in harmony with the largely Muslim population. When a bloody conflict between Algeria's army and Muslim Jihadi insurgents disrupts the peace, they are forced to consider fleeing the monastery and deserting the villagers they have ministered to. In the face of deadly violence the monks wrestle with their faith and their convictions.
A quotation from the Book of Psalms, Psalm 82:6-7: "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High. But ye shall die like men and fall like one of the princes."The story covers the life of the French Cistercian monks of The Monastery Notre-Dame De L'Atlas in Tibhirine in Algeria, from 1993 until their kidnapping in 1996.
The eight monks' peaceful routine of prayer, medical assistance, and community interaction is soon interrupted by the threat of an Islamic fundamentalist group who have started a civil war in the country. The monks spend their time in activities of the monastery, while also helping the local community in any way they can. The monastery is in an isolated portion of town, on an elevated hill, situated among the greenery of Algeria.
The monks are Dom Christian De Cherge, Brother Luc (born Paul Dochier), Father Christophe (Olivier Rabourdin), Brother Michel (Xavier Maly), Father Bruno (Olivier Perrier), Father Célestin (Philippe Laudenbach), and Brother Paul (Jean-Marie Frin).
Luc (Michael Lonsdale) is an old monk, in charge of medical treatments for the local population. A large number of locals, mostly women and kids, come to monastery to be treated by Luc. The monastery maintains a store of medicines to give to locals as per their need. Due to his work, Luc is often invited to weddings and new births in the local community.
The clothes and shoes donated by locals are also distributed to the poor through Luc. The monks have their own food supply from organic farms just outside the monastery compound.All indications are that the monks are fully integrated into the local Islamic society and are considered to be part of the community. Islamic priests and Christian monks all attend the same functions and co-exist peacefully.Luc also guides local girls on the matters of love and religion. Luc has been serving his Lord for the past 60 years. The monks guide the locals in keeping up to date on the required government documentation and papers.
Nouredine (Abdelhafid Metalsi) is a local who helps the monastery with masonry work. The monastery is shown to be trusted and respected by everyone. They sell organic honey at the local markets. The monks are alarmed by news of Islamist fundamentalists taking control of Algeria and closer to home the armed groups in the neighborhood are on the rampage, increasing their murderous attacks, like the one in which twelve Croatian workers were killed on 14 December 1993 on their building site just three kilometers from the monastery. The Croat workers were friends of the monastery.The Fundamentalists implement the rules of Islam in a very harsh manner and behead women for not wearing a veil.
Their elected leader, Christian (Lambert Wilson), declines the protection of the corrupt civil authority, against the Islamist Fundamentalists. Christian studies the Quran and has a good knowledge of the basis of Islamic religious faith and its laws and scriptures. Christian says that he will close the Monastery at 7 30 PM every day and will take no night calls.
The Monks are angry with Christian when he refuses the help of the local corrupt government for protection. They believe it should have been a collective decision. Christian says that he did not want army presence on Monastery grounds. The monks divide among themselves on the question of whether to stay or flee Algeria.
Before a decision is reached, a group of fundamentalists, led by Ali Fayattia (Farid Larbi), enters the monks' compound in force on Christmas Eve and demands their doctor and his medical supplies. Christian refuses their requests and cites the Quran as proof of the monks' goodwill. Christian vows that any human being who comes to the monastery seeking help will be provided, regardless of their faith or status.With a mixture of surprise and respect, Fayattia leaves the compound and grants it his protection until his capture, torture and death at the hands of government forces.
Later, the monks sit down to discuss. Some Monks want to give medicines to the Islamists, some want to leave and take shelter in a safer place. The monks are split between staying at the monastery or leaving for good.Despite the growing danger, the monks come to consensus on the moral importance of maintaining their committed lives with, and ministry to, the local population, even when faced with violence and death.
Christian is again summoned by the Algerian Govt Minister who gives him an order from the Interior Ministry to leave the country. They implore Christian that they are not in control of the country anymore and that they cannot guarantee anyone's safety. Christian refuses to leave.
One day a wounded Islamist is brought to the Monastery and as Christian promised, he is treated by Luc without prejudice. One day, the country's army informs Christian that Fayattia was captured and killed. His protection of the monastery is finally finished.At the next vote, all the monks vote against leaving the monastery.
Ultimately, the terrorists seize most of the monks during a nighttime raid and hold them hostage. As the captive monks trudge a snowy path towards a grim fate, the film concludes with the spiritual testament of prior Christian De Cherge, bravely written in the face of death.The Monks were killed on May 21st, 1996. The identity of their killers and the circumstances of their deaths remain a mystery.
