for "religion and ethics newsweekly," i'm lucky severson in philadelphia. >>> there's a french movie playing in many cities here that is receiving unusually glowing reviews, from critics and ordinary movie-goeralike. it's "of gods and men," and it's based on the story of trappist monks in algeria during the civil war there in the 1990s. they had to decide whether to leave their muslim neighbors and flee to safety, or stay and risk their lives when threatened by islamic militants. father james martin, culture editor of america magazine, talked with us about the movie and its powerful spiritual themes. ♪ >> i have never seen a film on an overtly religious topic that has affected me so much. i don't think i've ever seen one that's so honest about the life of faith. so it blew me away, to use some religious language. the monastery is a microcosm and a little world. i mean, you have the same joys and struggles and jealousies sometimes and arguments. the monks were human beings. they struggled with their faith, these very big questions, you know, about whether to stay. the monks are not as