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days of glory (indigenes) a film by Rachid BOUCHAREB

From:     film reviews
Category: Art
Date:     30 March 2007
Time:     01:15 PM

Review:

Bad title translation (it means native, the term used to descrined the north african soldiers who fought 
for france). The central irony, soldiers from the colonies fighting for the colonialists, is so strong, so 
tragic, as to make up for any slight tackiness that the film suffers from. It's a gripping war film and a 
denunciation of the foul stupidity and ugliness of racism. The soldiers praying to allah before they go 
into battle under the French flag, might just give all the NF islamophobes, and casual muslim-
slighters, pause for thought. Besides the political side, which is in most scenes forefront, the actors 
charm you into caring about their lives, it's all a bit great escape, but nonetheless, it makes for 
popular watchable politics, and apparently has led to the french government giving the north african 
veterans the pensions they should have got (ie the same as the white french soldiers).


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