Days of Glory (2006)

Synopsis
Writer-director Rachid Bouchareb (DUST OF LIFE [TFF 1994]) returns to Telluride with this story of the Arab volunteer soldiers from France’s North African colonies who fought valiantly during World War II. Faced with constant bigotry, the men develop ample and painful reason to question the sacrifices they are making. Saïd (Jamel Debbouze, from AMÉLIE [TFF 2001]) bonds with his white sergeant until making a disillusioning discovery. Messaoud (Roschdy Zem) finds a love affair with a French civilian blocked at every turn. Abdelkader (Sami Bouajila), at first imagining the war will win North Africans the esteem of the French, embodies the dawning political awareness that one day will end European colonial rule. Winner of the best actor award at Cannes (the entire ensemble was recognized), DAYS OF GLORY delivers the traditional satisfactions of war films while exploring the explosive issues of race, ethnicity and class in contemporary Europe. –LG (France-Algeria, 2006, 128m)