ABSTRACT
Xavier Beauvois’ film Des Hommes et des Dieux (Of Gods and Men, 2010) not only captures their exemplary martyrdom, but also invites those who see it to reflect on the choice which confronted the monks at that time, whether to leave the monastery altogether and abandon their vocation or to remain and endure the unknown consequences. The beauty of the film Of Gods and Men lies first in representing a courageous living out of the paschal mystery in the monks’ relentless desire for and imitation of Christ in difficult circumstances. The Biblical narrative told in Genesis 3:1–18 is essentially about the misplaced desire for and consequences of self-elevation. This chapter deals with four aspects of this narrative in relation to Masaccio's fresco The Expulsion: a universal story of erroneous desire and envy, pride, shame and loss; the fresco itself; St Augustine's insights into the text; and finally, shame, hiding and the possibility of forgiveness.
