Summary
In 1943, at the height of the Second World War, around 200 thousand
natives from French colonial Africa are recruited into the French First
Army of the Free French Forces. Known as "the indigènes",
these men will play a crucial role in the liberation of Italy and
France from the Germans. But they will also face continual
discrimination from their superiors, denied the privileges that other soldiers take for
granted. Four of these men – Abdelkader, Saïd, Messaoud and
Yassir – enrolled to save France from the Nazis and to find a better
life for themselves. Will France honour the debt it owes
them...?
Review
Indigènes is a
remarkable work from French film director Rachid Bouchareb, who had
previously won acclaim for such films as Poussières de vie (1995) and
Little Senegal (2001).
Frequently referred to as a French-African version of
Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan,
Indigènes is a
compelling wartime drama that pays homage to those soldiers from the
French African colonies who contributed to the liberation of
France in the Second World War. The film is uncompromising in its depiction of the
flagrant prejudice which these soldiers were subjected to, both during
the war and afterwards. It is shocking to learn that once their
countries had obtained independence from France, these war veterans
(including those resident in France) had their right to an army pension
revoked by the French government. It was not until after this
film was released in 2006 and raised public awareness of the issue that
the pension rights were restored by the French government.
Whilst the film does periodically come across as awkwardly didactic, labouring its political messages somewhat in a few places, it achieves its aims admirably – to offer a convincing portrayal of warfare and expose the injustice that many soldiers experienced on account of their ethnic grouping. The action scenes are particularly well-realised and are some of the most viscerally horrific to have ever appeared in a French war film, without ever appearing gratuitous.
This film’s quieter moments are equally effective, thanks to an intelligent script and some sensitive performances from a talented cast. Unlike many war films, where writers and directors tend to focus too much on set-piece action scenes, here the spectator is given the opportunity to get to know the main protagonists. We see the world through their eyes. We see their dreams and their fears, and we sympathise with their frustration at being regarded as second rate soldiers. The five principals – Jamel Debbouze, Samy Naceri, Sami Bouajila, Roschdy Zem and Bernard Blancan – were jointly awarded the Best Actor award at Cannes in 2006, and rightly so.
Indigènes was one of the most commercially successful French films of 2006, attracting an audience of just over three million in France. The film may have a specific humanitarian issue to address but it is also a powerful statement of the horrors of modern warfare. It portrays war in all its ugly and vicious barbarity, giving us but a shadow of a glimpse of the human cost of the conflict, the full extent of which will forever be beyond the comprehension of non-combatants.
© James Travers 2009
Write a review for this film...
Whilst the film does periodically come across as awkwardly didactic, labouring its political messages somewhat in a few places, it achieves its aims admirably – to offer a convincing portrayal of warfare and expose the injustice that many soldiers experienced on account of their ethnic grouping. The action scenes are particularly well-realised and are some of the most viscerally horrific to have ever appeared in a French war film, without ever appearing gratuitous.
This film’s quieter moments are equally effective, thanks to an intelligent script and some sensitive performances from a talented cast. Unlike many war films, where writers and directors tend to focus too much on set-piece action scenes, here the spectator is given the opportunity to get to know the main protagonists. We see the world through their eyes. We see their dreams and their fears, and we sympathise with their frustration at being regarded as second rate soldiers. The five principals – Jamel Debbouze, Samy Naceri, Sami Bouajila, Roschdy Zem and Bernard Blancan – were jointly awarded the Best Actor award at Cannes in 2006, and rightly so.
Indigènes was one of the most commercially successful French films of 2006, attracting an audience of just over three million in France. The film may have a specific humanitarian issue to address but it is also a powerful statement of the horrors of modern warfare. It portrays war in all its ugly and vicious barbarity, giving us but a shadow of a glimpse of the human cost of the conflict, the full extent of which will forever be beyond the comprehension of non-combatants.
© James Travers 2009
Write a review for this film...
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Useful links
- Best French films of 2011
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- The best 100 French films
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Related links
- The best French war films
- Other French films of the 2000s
- The best French films of the 2000s
- Other French war films
- Biography and films of Rachid Bouchareb
To buy this film
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Credits
- Director: Rachid Bouchareb
- Script: Rachid Bouchareb, Olivier Lorelle
- Photo: Patrick Blossier
- Music: Armand Amar, Cheb Khaled
- Cast: Jamel Debbouze (Saïd Otmari), Samy Naceri (Yassir), Roschdy Zem (Messaoud Souni), Sami Bouajila (Abdelkader), Bernard Blancan (Sergent Roger Martinez), Mathieu Simonet (Caporal Leroux), Benoît Giros (Capitaine Durieux), Mélanie Laurent (Margueritte village Vosges), Antoine Chappey (Le colonel), Assaad Bouab (Larbi), Aurélie Eltvedt (Irène), Thomas Langmann (Le journaliste), Thibault de Montalembert (Capitaine Martin), Dioucounda Koma (Touré)
- Country: France / Algeria / Belgium
- Language: French
- Runtime: 123 min
- Aka: Days of Glory
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Drama / History / War






