Days of Glory (2006 film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Days of Glory
Poster
Directed by	Rachid Bouchareb
Produced by	Jean Bréhat Jacques-Henri Bronckart
Written by	Rachid Bouchareb Olivier Lorelle
Starring	Jamel Debbouze Samy Naceri Sami Bouajila Roschdy Zem Bernard Blancan
Cinematography	Patrick Blossier
Distributed by	Mars Distribution (France) Belga Films (Belgium)
Release date(s)	May 2006 (2006-05) (Cannes)
Running time	123 minutes
Country	France Morocco Belgium Algeria
Language	Arabic French
Budget	$14.5 million
Money made	$22.5 million

Days of Glory (called Indigènes in French) is a French film from 2006. It was directed by Rachid Bouchareb. The movie stars Sami Bouajila, Jamel Debbouze, Samy Naceri, Roschdy Zem, Mélanie Laurent, and Bernard Blancan.

The film tells the story of North African soldiers. They fought for the Free French Forces during World War II. It also shows the unfair treatment they faced. After the film came out, the French government partly recognized the pension rights of these soldiers.

The main actors, Jamel Debbouze, Samy Naceri, Roschdy Zem, Sami Bouajila, and Bernard Blancan, all won the Best Actor Award at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. The film also won the François Chalais Prize and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The Story of Days of Glory

In French North Africa in 1943, many men joined the French First Army. These soldiers came from France's overseas lands. They joined the Free French Forces to fight against Nazi Germany. Their goal was to help free France from German control.

The army had two main groups. One group was "pieds-noirs," people of mostly European background. The other group was "indigènes," people of mostly African background. The "indigènes" included Algerians, Moroccans (called goumiers), and troops from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Saïd, a poor goat herder, joined the army. Other Algerians with him included Messaoud, who wanted to live in France. Corporal Abdelkader, who could read and write, hoped for equal rights for his people. Two Moroccan brothers, Yassir and Larbi, also joined. Yassir wanted to find treasures so Larbi could get married.

Soon, the men met Sergeant Martinez. He was a tough soldier who trained them. They wore mostly American uniforms. Their first fight was against the Germans in Italy. Their job was to capture a mountain. But it became clear that their French officer was using them. He sent them into dangerous spots to find enemy targets. The colonial troops succeeded, but many were hurt or killed. When asked about the losses, the French colonel said it was a "great victory."

Next, the soldiers went to liberate the south of France. On the ship, a French cook refused to give tomatoes to the "indigènes" soldiers. Abdelkader spoke up for equality. A fight was stopped when Martinez and the captain promised fair treatment.

When they arrived in Marseille, the colonial troops were welcomed as heroes. Messaoud met a French woman named Irène. He promised to write to her and return one day. She said she would wait for him. But because soldiers' mail was checked, Irène never learned what happened to Messaoud.

Saïd became Martinez's helper. Other soldiers teased him for this. Saïd eventually got angry and held a knife to Messaoud's throat. Abdelkader calmed things down. Saïd made it clear that the French authorities would not treat colonial soldiers fairly.

The colonial troops found out that French soldiers could go home for visits. But they were not allowed to. Eventually, they were told they would go home. This was a trick. Instead, they were sent behind the lines to watch a ballet show. Most soldiers left the tent, feeling disappointed. They held a meeting outside to talk about the unfairness. Martinez challenged them, and a fight started.

The next morning, military police brought Messaoud to a holding area. Abdelkader was also there. Messaoud said he was arrested trying to find Irène. Abdelkader was then called by the French colonel. The colonel told him he needed him for a special mission. He had to take supplies to American troops in the Lorraine Campaign. They would also be the first French troops to free Alsace. The officer promised Abdelkader and his soldiers rewards and recognition. Later, the white company captain told Abdelkader the colonel would keep his word.

As they crossed German lines, many men were killed by a hidden trap. Yassir's brother died, and Martinez was badly hurt. Most survivors wanted to go back. But Abdelkader encouraged them to keep going. Finally, Abdelkader, Saïd, Messaoud, Yassir, and the wounded Martinez reached an Alsatian village. Over the next few days, the soldiers became friendly with the villagers. Saïd befriended a milkmaid. When German soldiers arrived, a battle began. Messaoud was badly hurt and then shot. Saïd tried to help Martinez, but both were shot. Saïd died, and Martinez was killed. Abdelkader and Yassir tried to run, but Yassir was shot. Just as Abdelkader was trapped, more colonial troops arrived. They drove the Germans out of the village.

As more French forces moved through the area, Abdelkader saw the colonel. But the officer ignored him. A staff officer pulled Abdelkader away and asked where his unit was. When Abdelkader said they were all dead, he was simply assigned to another officer. As he left the village, he saw a cameraman filming only French troops with the villagers. But the villagers cheered for Abdelkader as he walked away.

The movie then jumps to the present day. An older Abdelkader visits a war cemetery in Alsace. He sees the graves of his friends: Martinez, Larbi, Saïd, Yassir, and Messaoud. He then returns to his small apartment in France. The film ends by explaining that after 1959, pensions for soldiers from France's overseas lands did not increase once their home countries became independent.

Cast

• Jamel Debbouze - Saïd Otmari
• Samy Naceri - Yassir
• Roschdy Zem - Messaoud Souni
• Sami Bouajila - Abdelkader
• Bernard Blancan - Sergeant Roger Martinez
• Mathieu Simonet - Caporal Leroux
• Assaad Bouab - Larbi
• Mélanie Laurent - Margueritte village Vosges
• Benoît Giros - Captain Durieux
• Thibault de Montalembert - Captain Martin
• Aurélie Eltvedt - Irène
• Dioucounda Koma - Touré
• Philippe Beglia - Rambert
• Antoine Chappey - The colonel
• Kalen Bushe - Second colonel
• Thomas Langmann - The journalist
• Julie de Bona

Why This Film Matters Today

The film shows how these African soldiers joined the fight for France. Many had never even seen France. As a song in the film says, "we come from the colonies to save the motherland, we come from afar to die, we are the men of Africa." The movie highlights the unfair treatment they received in the army. The army often favored European French soldiers.

This unfairness continued after the war. French governments froze the war pensions of these soldiers. This happened when their home countries became independent. The film's ending notes that even after a ruling that pensions should be paid in full, this did not happen. Only after the film's release did the government change its policy. Foreign soldiers' pensions were then made equal to French veterans' pensions. However, they still did not receive the money they were owed from past years.

In 2009, the BBC showed evidence of more unfairness. Black colonial soldiers made up about two-thirds of the Free French forces. But they were purposely removed from the units that led the advance to free Paris in 1944. General Charles de Gaulle wanted French troops to enter Paris first. So, Allied leaders insisted that black soldiers be replaced by European and North African soldiers from other French units.

Historian Julian Jackson explained this further. After Algeria was taken by the Allies, de Gaulle went there in May 1943. Algiers became the new capital of the Free French. Algeria also had many North African troops. In 1942, de Gaulle had about 50,000 soldiers. But in 1943, thanks to Algeria, he had about half a million men. This diverse army first fought in Italy in 1943. They fought at the Battle of Monte Cassino. Then they landed in southern France in August 1944.

However, the 2nd Armored Division was sent to northern France. One American general called it "the only French division which could be made 100% white." Even if de Gaulle didn't directly order this, he didn't seem to object. This meant that the final stages of the Free French story were "whitewashed." People quickly forgot that France's colonial soldiers helped them rejoin the war as a major power in 1944.

See also

• 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (France)
• Goumier
• Marocchinate
• Tirailleur