人与神

【作者：刘苇】　　一座简朴的修道院，坐落在北非山野僻静处。

几名修士，在那里祈祷、洒扫、冥想，与当地穆斯林村民相处融洽，他们在市场购物，出售自制的蜂蜜，为村民治病，彼此形成了类似树与鸟般相互依存的关系。

　　然而外部动荡的局势，很快打破了修道院的宁静。

影片《人与神》为我们展现了一群修士在动荡局势中如何自处的问题。

　　影片虽然没有明确指出修道院所在的地理位置，但略知一些法国历史知识的人都知道法国曾一度深陷在阿尔及利亚的麻烦之中。

我们从影片中看到，当地伊斯兰极端组织不断制造恐怖事件，几乎就是那时阿尔及利亚局势的写照。

他们既有政治诉求（要求独立），又有宗教诉求（排斥外来宗教）。

　　一群修士，处于政治与宗教冲突的夹缝中。

　　值得称道的是，影片没有从外部环境入手，而是深入修士的内心，向人们展现他们之间的不同。

有些修士，几乎修炼了一辈子，面对生死，依然会犹疑、胆怯和彷徨。

这正是人性真实的写照。

　　影片重点放在修士的几次会议上，该如何选择呢？

在如此恶劣的环境里，究竟是离开还是留下？

这是一个生死大考验的问题。

影片极为细致地呈现会议情景，展现修士们的不同心理反应，他们由最初的疑虑，逐渐走向一致。

没有喧哗，每个人的话语是如此之少，镜头一一扫过他们的脸，将他们的内心展现。

到影片结尾处，他们不再言语，医生卢克播放柴可夫斯基的《天鹅湖》，优美的旋律里有挣扎，有坠入，有黑白对峙，有奋起抗争，也有希望。

音乐表达了他们的心声，同时又像是神灵的祝福。

他们似乎在音乐中看到一丝预兆——从那扇黑暗的门走入，前面就有亮光。

　　影片刻画了每个修士的不同精神面貌。

其中医生卢克和院长克里斯汀最为生动。

医生像个智者，与少女关于爱情的谈话，以及在会议中的表现，都表明他具有成熟的智慧；而院长克里斯汀，在他与恐怖分子、军队的周旋中，可以看出他坚定的信念。

　　影片的主题，在于揭示人性与神性的差异，以及人通过自我内在的净化，如何向神性学习——哪怕只是一丝细微的趋近。

人以最后的死亡，走上一条奉献之路。

这是一条向上的路。

所谓“人与神”，意义即在于此。

影片最后的那个场景充满寓意，白雪覆盖的山峦上，一群修士艰难地行进着，他们向更高处走去……　　影片的基调克制而明净。

修士们缓慢的步履，在树林中的轻声交流，室内的默默祈祷，湖畔宁静的沉思，期间的光影效果也是沉静的。

片中修士们的安宁与外界的纷杂形成鲜明对比，政府军直升飞机的隆隆噪音，恐怖分子夜晚闯入时的卡车撞门的声响，像是刺耳的雷声，撕裂了山野的宁静。

一切被打破了，一场大考验来临在即。

紧张，悄然驶入。

然而，导演夏维尔·毕沃斯“静悄悄”地处理了这份紧张。

这是影片耐人寻味之处，同时也提升了影片的品质。

　　由此而论，影片不是讲述不同宗教间的斗争，也不是讲述政治的纷争，尽管都有所涉猎；而是侧重于人物的内心，仿佛事件的不断发生，是为了擦拭修士们的内在心灵，好让修士们的内心之光显露出来。

他们的行为，犹如用信念的针，缝补着碎裂的世界。

——本文选自刘苇刘先生文集《此生是我吗》

Based on the true story of nine French monks of a monastery in the village of Tibhirine in Algeria’s Atlas Mountains, Of Gods and Men is a remarkably thought-provoking film that reveals the essence of religious beliefs. It is luminously beautiful, not only because of their peaceful life and work along with the Muslim community behind the tranquil natural scenery, but also because of their steadfast love and spiritual beliefs in God, unshakable even amid the turmoil. Through the narratives of the nine monks’ life, their community, and the process that leads to their final decision to stay at the monastery, the film shows how they are driven to dedicate their lives to the Muslims and to the Church, which illuminates the Church’s beliefs, in particular the text Nostra Aetate, Lumen Gentium, and the Testament of Dom Christian de Chergé. They dedicate their lives to the Muslims by immersing themselves into the Muslim community, showing their respect and admiration towards the people with different religion. The monks talk and live peacefully with the villagers even though they believe in different religions. Brother Luc provides free medical care for the villagers and all who need his services. The monks’ hospitality towards the Muslim villagers illuminates Nostra Aetate, which emphasizes the common ground of Muslims and Christians and shows understanding of their differences. As Nostra Aetate 3 mentions, “The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems”, it draws upon the similarities that the two religions share in order to illustrate its understanding and respect of their differences; for example, Although Muslims do not regard Jesus as God, the text steps back and acknowledges that the Muslims “revere Him [Jesus] as a prophet”. The monks’ actions indeed demonstrate their acceptance and respect of people with different beliefs. Beyond that, the monks actually show more than just respect, but admiration towards the Muslims and Islam. They attend the villagers’ Muslim ceremonies. The abbot Dom Christian reads Quran in addition to studying the Bible, and tests the leader of the insurgents about the Quran; later Christian identifies this leader’s corpse and even prays for him without discrimination. Brother Luc also treats another shot terrorist. The essence of Nostra Aetate is thus manifested and fulfilled in the monks’ deeds. As Nostra Aetate 5 writes, “We cannot truly call on God…if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God.” The monks, especially Christian, are not simply motivated by their respect to Muslims. They are invited by the Church with a moral duty to genuinely love Muslims and Islam and to actively wonder why Muslims are part of God’s creations, although it might require them to commit their lives to do so. To treat the Muslims “in a brotherly way” is to see them by inquiring and seeking into them for who they are. For the monks, it is through studying the Muslim texts and living in a community with them that they know how God is also calling the Muslims to holiness just as they are. The monks have therefore completely immersed themselves into a Muslim community. They are so connected to the villagers that in one scene, when the monks are deciding whether to leave or not, two of the monks confess, “We are like birds on a branch. We don’t know if we are to leave.” A Muslim woman answers, “You are the branch. If you go, we will lose our footing.” The Christian monks, along with the Muslim community, decide together how to respond to the terrorism, and the two sides go through the struggle together in the process. The monks’ life-and-death decision is tied to that of the villagers, demonstrating again the real mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims as Nostra Aetate suggests. They choose to devote themselves and even their lives to the Muslims by tethering themselves to the Muslim community. They also dedicate their lives to the Church by unifying as a community in the Church, a visible element of the Church’s sacramental identity, becoming Christian witnesses to the world, and revealing God’s salvation for all people. All that they do illuminates the nature of the Church. The simple life of the monks—to pray and work—shows their conformity to Christ within a community. It is manifested first in their consistency of prayer. For example, when a helicopter is roaring over the monastery, they gather side by side, pray, and sing the psalm, asking for God’s mercy. From their modest work and living in the Church, they also learn to ask for help, to repent, and to say thank you, through which the Church calls the followers together as a community to find its salvation in Christ. Their sense of community resonates with the meaning of the Church explained in Lumen Gentium. As Lumen Gentium 8 writes, “Christ…established and continually sustains here on earth His holy Church, the community of faith, hope and charity, as an entity with visible delineation through which He communicated truth and grace to all.” The Church is the Body of Christ through which followers of Jesus Christ are bound together. God binds Himself freely with humanity and manifests Himself in the Church, and thus the Church clothes people with the glory of Christ. By gathering believers, God creates a community, to help them learn to confess their need for God and to ask for God’s mercy. This is what it means to be the Church, and what the monks are devoting themselves to first of all. In this sense, their offering of their lives illustrates more spiritual meanings than just the act of martyrdom. It is a confirmation for the Church of the redemption for all and the Christian witness to the rest of the world. As Lumen Gentium 9 writes, “God gathered together as one all those who in faith look upon Jesus as the author of salvation and the source of unity and peace, and established them as the Church that for each and all it may be the visible sacrament of this saving unity.” The Church is thus a visible fellowship, which by invisible grace, bears fruit. The Church’s goal is to make people just like Christ. The process is the struggle to be remade and to be recreated; Christians are finally “born” when they are fully conformed to Christ, becoming the fruit of the Grace of God. This commitment may cost their lives, and is perfectly carried out through the death of the monks. When gathered together, they die to themselves out of love for God, redeeming their sins, and building up the Church. Therefore, the monks dedicate their lives for salvation in the Church, presenting themselves as the fruit of God. By agreeing to stay at the monastery and giving up their lives, the monks, like the “disciples of Christ”, present themselves as a “living sacrifice” and “bear witness to Christ” as Lumen Gentium 9 demands, through which God extends salvation and holiness to all people, including non-Christians. The monks offer their whole life because their love to God is so immense that it can overcome everything; they, by willing to sacrifice themselves, become Christian witnesses to the world. God uses these monks to reveal to the world, and see their death as a gift to the Algerians and a universal call to holiness. Every human is called to be a saint, and the possibility of salvation is extended to all people, including the Muslims and also the extremists. Christian thus also extends the fellowship to a terrorist when he prays to the terrorist who will kill him, and when he decides to stay and risk being killed by terrorists. As Lumen Gentium 5 writes, “The Church, then, considers martyrdom as an exceptional gift and as the fullest proof of love. By martyrdom a disciple is transformed into an image of his Master by freely accepting death for the salvation of the world—as well as his conformity to Christ in the shedding of his blood.” Holiness is always a conformation to Christ. Therefore, through their death not only will they reveal God’s salvation in Christ, but also God can even appeal to the Muslims and the terrorists who will kill them. By revealing God’s love, God simultaneously invites non-Christians to be shaped by it.Their dedication to the Muslims and to Church can be more deeply understood and manifested in the Testament of Dom Christian de Chergé. As Christian writes, “This is what I shall be able to do, if God wills: Immerse my gaze in that of the Father, to contemplate with Him His children of Islam as He sees them, all shining with the glory of Christ, fruit of His Passion, filled with the Gift of the Spirit whose secret joy will always be to establish communion and to refashion the likeness, playing with the differences.” Christian is first saying that because of Christ’s “passion”, his death and resurrection, God has opened the avenue of holiness and sanctification for all people. What the cross reveals is God’s desire to be united with humanity; for Christian the fruit of union and love revealed on cross can be found even outside the Christian tradition. People in all traditions and religions can achieve the likeness of Christ and the sanctification with the union with God. This imitation of God exists within people’s own traditions; within Islam itself, Christ is present in a hidden but effective way. If God is able to invite people to him through other traditions, it is a grace that comes through Christ and it is by virtue of the fact God opened himself up on the cross to people in order to redeem people. Muslims can become holy as “He sees them”, and they are able to do so as the “fruit of the passion” of Christ.God calls Muslims to holiness by virtue of Christ’s death, and the dedication of Christian’s life to understanding this is perfected by a death that imitates Christ’s. The sanctification of all people including Muslims is the conformation to Christ, and Christian wonders how Christ is actually hidden to these people while still so effective. His hope is thus to participate in the life of the trinitarian God through his own death, one similar to Christ’s, so that he can faithfully witness to the redemptive death of Christ, and that God can invite the Muslims and also the extremists to become holy in a similar way. Thus Christian will be able to see how non-Christians can participate in the life of Trinity as well. In true love and wonder for the Muslim community around him, he immerses himself into the death of Christ, and understands his death as his own final witness to the Muslim community and to the sanctification God extends to Muslims and the terrorists in Christ. In the end on a gray day, seven of the nine monks are taken away by armed terrorists and disappear in the mist of snow, leaving the audience with a sense of inner calm to grieve and meditate over their death. Of Gods and Men is not a film about how the monks die, but how they live and why they are willing to die. It is a quiet but powerful film in its way that brings to profound meditation of Christian religious beliefs through the understanding of the monks’ dedication of their lives to the Muslims and the Church. －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－1. 以上言论不代表我的个人观点，只是我神学必修课学到的基督教（带点catholic）的宗教思想，我自己是不信教的2. 请自行谷歌Nostra Aetate, Lumen Gentium3. Testament of Dom Christian de Chergé是影片结尾Christian念的“遗书”，谷歌就有原文4. 这故事是真的，只有部分情节戏剧化5. 那段时期很多别的教徒也做了同样的选择6. 奉劝广大豆友不要以剧情片的角度来看这部电影

一年后看《人与神》的震撼比此刻滚烫的电脑键盘还要炙热。

Highlight三个场景，一：修士们念日课时，直升飞机的轰鸣声无比刺耳，修士们起初很慌张，但是在会长的带领下，大家手拉手唱起了额我略圣咏，歌声艰难地与直升飞机噪音争夺着；二，Christophe效仿耶稣山园祈祷，在不知道是否该留下时，Christian会长前来安慰，他问会长，“为什么我们要殉道？

为了天主？

还是为了做英雄？

”Christian回答他的话：听着又是陈词滥调——“因为爱可以容忍一切”；三，最后的晚餐，老医生Luc用颤颤巍巍的手播放《天鹅湖》时，一开始，所有人都面带惊喜，但是当摄影机推近每张面孔的时候，你看到，其实他们都在强作镇定。

这个时候很清楚了，很多事情是注定要发生的，仿效耶稣受苦的滋味不好受，但保禄说过“我们不会都死，但我们都要改变。

”完全可以质疑，影片描绘修士改变态度的内容太单薄，只有几个祈祷的镜头，但是，这群人在面对苦难时，除了祈祷，还能做什么？

Christian片尾的遗书题目叫《A-dieu》把法语表示“永别”的单词"adieu"拆开，就变成了”A-Dieu"-- "To God"多么奇妙的解释了吗？

“因为你是天主，所以，黑暗在你眼里，也是光明。

”一粒麦子落地死了，才能结出籽粒来。

八名西多会(Cistercian)教徒在北非的土地上建立了一座修道院，他们一直和当地的穆斯林相安无事的生活着。

可平静的生活被一场突然而来的谋杀案打破了，一群外籍工人在当地被杀，而西多会也开始面临当地居民的怀疑和怨恨。

军队试图加强对修道院的保护，却被教徒拒绝了。

就在这时，一群原教旨主义者来访，宣称对这场屠杀负责.。

.这群势单力薄的西多会修士将会勇敢地捍卫自己的信念。

关于影片《人与神》改编自真实事件：一九九六年三月二十六号到二十七号的夜晚，阿尔及利亚的提比林(Tibhirine) 基督教修道院，有七位修士在阿尔及利亚内战的时候被挟持走；绑架两个多月后，五月二十一号发现他们的尸体。

他们跟他们的伊斯兰邻居相处和谐，为何遭遇此不幸？

影片并没有正面描写事件全过程，而是还原了一九九三年年底到一九九六年三月笼罩在提比林修道院内的不安气氛。

Of Gods and MenFaith, Ethics, and Sacrificesp1true story of the Tibhirine massacre during the Algerian civil war in the 1990s. Seven French Trappist monks were kidnapped and killed by Islamic extremists. monk's life in the monastery, integration into the local Muslim community, and spiritual journey in the face of the threat of violent journeyFaith and interfaith dialogue1. harmonious relationship between different religious groupsEthics and moral dilemmas1. Ethical decisions about life and death2. whether they should leave Algeria, their home, or stay, suffering a threat of violence3. The complexities of making ethical choices in the face of mortal danger4. Ask us to think about ethical decisions in complex situations.sacrifice and martyrdom1. ancient, connected with our history2. in a modern context3. self-sacrifice4. sacrifice of life5. What does it mean to give up one's life?community and solitude1. individual solitude; interact in silence2. tension between communal life and personal solitudePeace and violence1. nonviolence2. Peacekeepers in a violent worldp31. How do the monk's moral convictions and their commitment to their faith influence their decisions in a dangerous environment?1. The monastique community and the community of the Muslim village influence their decisions.2. The sense of duty is rooted in their Christian faith, which teaches love, compassion, and service to one's neighbor.3. to leave or to stay? "I thought I could go, but where can I be?" Their lives are made up of their decisions in the current moment.4. commitment to nonviolence5. Spiritual calling and martyrdom. They made the Algerian village their home, and they found spiritual calling in this village. If death has meaning, it only has meaning within the choices that they have made.6. How do they make their decisions? Contemplation, individual reflection, and communal decision-making. It needs time and depth of reflection.7. The process of decision-making is not made unilaterally but through communal deliberation. It underscores the importance of community in monastic life, where individual desires are put in second place.2. What moral dilemmas are faced by the characters? How do their choices reflect their philosophical and ethical values?1. the dilemma of flight or fight: self-preservation or fight? Fleeing is against upholding their spiritual mission and their commitment to the local community.2. neutrality in the face of violence. They don't want to take sides and be protected by either side. Their insistence on non-participation in violence reflects the ethical values of peace and nonviolence, deeply rooted in Christian teaching. It underscores their belief in the sanctity of all human life and the power of peace to overcome violence. Is it idealistic? Is it wrong?3. Hospitality vs. security. Everyone is welcome, but what if they are terrorists? How do you cope with dangerous people? Their choice is to continue welcoming all who come to them.4. Individual fear vs. collective responsibility. Fear is very private. Every monk struggles with personal fear and doubt, reflecting the human instinct for survival. Their process of discernment, involving prayer and communal discussion, allows them to confront their fear and take responsibility.5. Forgiveness in the face of aggression. How can we forgive our enemies (someone who is aggressive toward you)? What is the meaning of doing so?3. Considering the film's portrayal of the relationship between religion and ethics, what insights can we gain about the interaction of faith and morality in challenging circumstances?1. Religious belief can shape ethical decisions.2. faith as a foundation for ethical living. What the monks do is deeply rooted in their Christian beliefs.3. The ethical imperative of solidarity4. Nonviolence as a moral and religious principle: intersection5. The role of prayer and contemplation in ethical decision-making: how to make important decisions Careful reflection gives people space to think about decisions.6. sacrifice and martyrdom as ethical acts of faith. Many people care too much about self-preservation. Sacrifice is difficult to think about. None of the monks wishes to die but to preserve their lives as long as possible, but they are ready to sacrifice their lives to accept the final death. True moral courage can involve the willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for one's principles and the well-being of others. What was the meaning of the death in the end? authentic portrayal of life and death to make us think. In what situation is it necessary to give up one's life?

《人与神》在极端平衡的画面构图中开始了故事，开篇日常而缓慢的生活镜头让观众习惯了导演的叙述节奏，随之进入了他的世界。

那个时空是1996年阿尔及利亚内战期间，8名从法国自愿来到北非马格布地区的修道士在那里过着苦行僧般生活，和当地信仰伊斯兰教的村名融合相处，给与当地人一些医疗教育上的帮助。

用了大量的笔墨去铺设超乎寻常的安详宁静，反而成了平衡即将被打破的预言。

在日常琐碎的画面中突然出现了异常欢乐的声音：一个接受洗礼的孩子。

人们的鼓掌和欢笑，孩子对仪式的茫然眼神。

这一切突然变得抽离，好像中午阳光的过分绚丽会使得夜晚来临后更加寒冷。

可是我们的生活就是这样的，在安详中生活的久了，突然而来的痛苦和悲伤总是让人粹不及防，无所适从。

最初的恐怖在一场缓和的交谈中出现了，前一个画面传教士还在凉晒的衣物间穿行，下一个画面就是众人在谈论被杀死的少女。

当铲土机直面的冲向镜头的时候，所有的平衡被打破，以信仰为借口的冲突总是最惨烈的。

温情脉脉的情节随着几个劳工被恐怖分子用刀割破喉咙结束了。

你抱怨生活平淡无奇么？

那好，现在你可以如愿的生活在恐惧之中了。

那8个传教士带着各自的故事来阿尔及利亚，可以前那些生命的属性变得不重要了，多年的僧侣生活让他们的灵魂像身体一样被无形的禁锢了。

面对恐怖组织的威胁，生存的本能想要逃离，回到法国。

可是曾经的故乡再也无法让灵魂得到安抚。

当迷恋一个宗教那么长时间之后，该如何背弃曾经的信仰？

已经有现成的救世主可提供心灵慰籍，在那里可以躲起来，教义里有的是现成的措辞和典故让死亡变成牺牲。

可是内心没有挣扎么？

那为什么僧侣中意志最坚强的‘克里斯蒂’会漫步在无人的湖边，徘徊在暴雨中试图聆听自己内心的声音。

是的不要犹豫了，人生太多的悲苦，与其狼狈的挣扎，还不如从容的面对，而且神给了你那么多的高尚的理由和借口。

神赋予太多牺牲的必然性，比如传达神对所有人的爱。

导演在拍摄传教士为一个恐怖分子医治伤口的时候， 刻意的选择了威尼斯画派的名作《基督下十字架》的构图和画面感。

而反政府武装领袖死去时的画面和格瓦拉死去后美军拍摄的照片又是何其的相似。

最惨烈的暴力总是以信仰的名义发起。

导演带着我们俯瞰这一切曾经真实发生过的事情，摄影机一直处于旁观的状态，单纯的长镜头在此时显得分外有力量，剪辑避免了任何多余的过渡和修饰，坚硬直白，仿佛我们都是神，看着这一切的发生。

有人愤怒有人恐惧有人死去，这就是碌碌众生。

最终，8名法国基督教徒，在怀疑，分歧，犹豫之后，他们，还是，选择，留下。

Christian最后说，这一切的全部意义，就在于，我们如何活着，他们在恐怖分子侵入后，仍选择，在圣诞夜做完弥撒，这才是他们必须做的。

接着，他们就如同新生，每一天如是。

Do right things at right time!信仰就是，在极端痛苦，在根本看不到希望之时，仍旧信，信这一切都是上帝的旨意。

我接触宗教，源于和一位同学的相遇。

从一开始的不理解，到现在的开始有些感同身受，我感受到了上帝的力量，只因信，他让我感觉我自己站在磐石上，不动摇，这样的感觉，23年，从未有过！

这样的感觉，真的很好！

刚开始他推荐我看这部电影，我没有办法接受，而现在，我却自己选择去看了这部电影，而且对整个剧，很能理解，看得明白，觉得，信就是如此。

这不就是到了right time，自然而然就会做right things么！

信，让自己的灵魂变得自由，心，将不再枯竭，而是满满的！

弗朗索瓦·奧宗（Francois Ozon）的《八美千嬌》是一部好看的有八個女主角的電影，因為把八個女人湊在一起即使沒有故事也會有戲看。

而此片導演畢沃斯硬是反其道而行之，冒險將八個循規蹈矩的修道士的原本就平淡無奇的生活展現出來。

然而儘管電影不斷地重複著那些諸如祈禱、詠唱、耕種、醫治的場景，但預想中的沉悶並未發生。

八個遲暮老男人輕輕鬆鬆便將故事的結構支撐起來，影片所需的質感塑造出來，每一個人的演技都讓人嘖嘖稱讚。

在這裡我並不想去討論殉教者的虔誠與疑惑，那些基於種族與信仰的屠殺在人類短暫的歷史上從未息止過。

我擔心的是，將一件曾經發生過的且廣為人知的事件虛構成真實的影像，導演有多大把握。

看了幕後花絮才知道導演為拍攝這個本身已無懸念的故事在私底下做了多少細緻耐心的功課。

所有那些不起眼的細節和並未刻意展現的背景，讓電影真實感人。

里面的圣歌很好听，沁人心脾。

平铺直叙的纪录式风格将这次历史事件还原得很中肯，在修士们一次次的开会和挣扎中，可以感受到油然而生的恐惧与自身信仰强烈的冲突。

同样作为信徒的我，也是多少能够明白他们的感受。

作为一部历史剧情片，无论是演绎和气氛营造上，算是上乘之作了。

西方人拍摄宗教题材时，不管是说耶稣的还是说教士的，其主题往往注目于这干人的人性需求与职业性要求之间的尖锐冲突。

说人性压倒神性的，往往是带有批判和反思色彩的，如《恶魔》、《在撒旦阳光下》；说神性大于人性的，往往是符合大众口味的主旋律版本。

其实说教士坏话的文艺作品，可以上溯到文艺复兴时的但丁，他在自己的代表作《神曲》里，刻画了一群荒淫、贪婪、无耻、奸诈的教士群像，也就差不多将人们能想到的坏事都安到教士头上了，也许那时候的人们深受宗教的苦，有切肤之痛，于是说起话来，格外咬牙切齿。

后来，宗教的势力越来越弱，以至于到如今就像一个慈善组织似的，于是人们开始说起它的好话来了，譬如本片。

但上世纪六几年的时候，著名导演、忠诚的马克思主义者帕索里尼还拍过一个连古板挑剔的梵蒂冈都首肯的《马太福音》，它是说耶稣的故事，这里的耶稣是个大慈大悲的五好青年，他的救世思想和献身精神令并无宗教信仰的我也大受感动，本片同是这个路数。

但本片还做了一些创新：它将教士的传教地区，从西方搬到了阿拉伯世界，也加添了教士的自食其力情节，当然本片的主体依然是神性和人性的苦苦挣扎，但最终神性战胜人性。

这是一个主旋律版本的宗教故事。

由于传教地点从西方搬到了阿拉伯世界，于是连带的就反应了中东地区紧张复杂的局势。

这在影片中并不是正面表现的内容，而是被顺带的侧面传达出来的。

它要么是简约的插入一笔，要么是在教士的活动中，要么是教士的谈话间，旁敲侧击的予以表现。

于是，我们就见到了这样的火热现实：西方想要继续殖民、本地政府和本地武装势力拼命死掐、当地老百姓物质生活水平低下以及美丽的当地自然风光。

这就为这一题材开辟了少见的社会现实疆域。

这种种势力扭结在一起，组成了一幅中东的政治势力图，而处于风口浪尖的正是这群目光温和的教士。

法国政府希望他们平安回国，当地的叛乱分子想要捉他们以为人质，本地政府也嫌他们碍事，希望他们早日离开。

但他们战胜了内心的软弱，响应上帝的召唤，而决定留下。

这是一群温柔善良，充满伟大的救世思想和献身精神的教士。

他们自食其力，自己耕种粮食，还把自制的蜂蜜卖到市场上去。

他们免费行医，还捐助当地的穷苦平民衣物。

他们就像当代的红十字会。

在后四分之三篇幅，本故事就将线索由外拉向内，表现了这群教士在死亡来临前内心的呼喊和细语。

教士一共八位，态度不一，有主张留下，有主张离开，还有模棱两可的。

本片大部分篇幅也就用在这里，它主要刻画了留下者更加坚定留下、模棱两可者坚定信仰、离开者决定留下这样一个细腻的心理转变过程。

死，亦大矣。

慷慨赴义固然不容易，从容赴死就更难。

在死亡面前，人的求生本能总会顽强的表现出来，是为人性。

而要克服死前的恐惧，教士们的武器就是上帝，当上帝逐渐占据教士们的心灵时，这群温柔的教士们也变得战士般勇敢坚强了，是为神性。

教士们的生活总是宁静的，他们的日常生活是些如平静如湖面般的内容：早起唱圣咏、学习圣经、田间劳作、上集市交易、行诊、听人忏悔等等。

整部影片也是静静的，细腻素朴，没有煽情的画外音乐，没有象征隐喻的蒙太奇，而只是一段段朴实无华的日常生活的组接。

但是经过编导精心提炼的生活画面却又具有一种浓酽的美感，因为它记录的是一群善良正直人们充满爱的生活，它是日常生活之诗。

及至到了片尾，教士们一致决定留下，和当地人同在，和上帝同在，这群温柔善良的教士们才浪漫了一把，他们拿出酒，放上柴可夫斯基的《天鹅湖》，曲调悲怆、伤感、忧郁，是教士们神性灵魂的呼喊和细语，是上帝对苦难大地的照临和叹息。