DAYS OF GLORY

War movie
In Arabic and French with English subtitles

BACKGROUND
French Colonial Forces is a general designation for the military forces that were recruited from the French colonial empire from the late 17th century onwards. This military unit has played a substantial part in support of “mother France”.

In 1942 the Nazis occupied France while vast numbers of the French army were imprisoned in German camps. The colonies became the only source of a replacement army to continue the war effort in support of the Allies.

France conscripted its colonial citizens as soldiers from places such as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. They were treated as second-class citizens, referring to them disparagingly as 'indigènes. Senior N.C.O.’s (sergeants and above) and all officers were native Frenchmen.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Jamel Debbouze: Private Said, an illiterate Algerian peasant
Sami Bouajila: his superior, fellow countryman Corporal Abdelkader
Roshdy Zem: Messaoud, the company marksman
Samy Naceri: the scrounger Yassir
Assaad Bouab: his younger brother Larbri
Bernard Blancan: squad leader, Frenchman Sergeant Martinez

REVIEW
Several things sets this war movie apart from the others:

It is about a little known aspect of World War II
Very believable (except perhaps for the romantic sub-plot)
No high-tech effects are used

On the other hand, it also shares some of the things we see in better movies:

Excellent performances by the principals
Great cinematography
Crisp editing

CLASSIFICATION
for war violence, brief language.