This timely film loosely bases its story on the life of the Cistercian monks of Tibhirine in the mountains of Algeria in the 1990s. Eight French Christian monks live in harmony with their Muslim brothers but when a crew of foreign workers are massacred by an Islamic fundamentalist group fear sweeps though the region leaving the monks with a terrible dilemma. Should they leave? The army offers them protection, but the monks refuse. Despite the growing menace in their midst, they slowly realize that they have no choice but to stay... come what may.