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Days Of Glory [2006] | ![Days Of Glory [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UFQiWUTsL._SL75_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Rachid Bouchareb
Actors: Jamel Debbouzel, Antoine Chappey, Aurelie Eltvedt, Roschdy Zem, Samy Naceri
Studio: Metrodome Distribution
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £4.59
You Save: £15.40 (77%)
New (19) Used (6) from £4.10
Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 1559
Format: Pal
Language: French (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 120
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5055002553332
ASIN: B000TR6BB6
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: September 24, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New - Swift dispatch from UK mainland
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 Long overdue July 13, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
An intense film that while has often been compared to Saving Private Ryan other than them both being war films has very little in common.
The film depicts Algerian soldiers who had volunteered to fight in the French army during world war 2. The film begins with a village elder in Algeria calling upon the men to fight for the 'motherland' France against German occupation. When enlisted, they are brought together with North African troops who had already been fighting in North Africa and were to be posted to France. They are put under the command of an Algerian born French officer, given the most basic of training and then sent to the front.
Their first battle is to take a hilltop heavily fortified by German forces. While suffering heavy casualties they manage to capture the position. Encouraged by their success and now with valuable military experience they are greeted as heroes in France. Still prejudice is never far away. The first most obvious example we are give is when on board a boat the men are receiving a meal however, the chef refuses to give a tomato to a black soldier resulting in a minor mutiny that is only quelled when their commanding officer assures them that all will receive the same rations.
The army unit moves to the mountains where they are commanded to hold positions in freezing conditions while white French troops are given leave, finally they are given leave only to return back to be given a mission to hold a small French village under near impossible conditions.
Much of the film is given to developing each character. One is an illiterate man from a village, incapable of making his own decisions and quickly falls under the leadership of his commanding officer. Another is a fairly well educated man who seeks promotion in the army and sees himself as a career officer. Then we have two brothers and a man who falls in love with a local girl and hopes that when the war ends, he may return to her and settle down in Marseilles. Finally, there is their commanding officer, who while born in Algeria sees himself as very much French with something of a colonial contempt for the Arabs while keeping a dark secret hidden.
While there is ample time for character development and throughout the film you do come to relate to the characters I found it interesting that the black African soldiers barely said a word (Other than complain about not getting a tomato) and played very much a background role. No doubt they were Senegalese troops due to their dress and there does exists a fair amount of racism towards black Africans by some Arabs so I would have been interested to see something of that examined in the film. I felt the simple "All us colonials together" A little far fetched.
That out of the main characters one it seems wishes to remain in France, another begins to feel increasingly that while Fighting for the freedom of France that should also extend to his own people I found quite realistic. I have spoken to many Africans who had fought during the second word war and many tell of how on returning from the war saw the freedom of their own nation just as important as the freedom of Britain or France for which they fought.
The fact that it has took so long to recognise the contribution of 'colonial' troops during the second world war both in the cinema and in history books may go some way to explain why some would see this film as 'politically correct' The fact that France frozen the pensions of these men who fought to free their country is a source of shame.
This is a touching film. One of the concluding scenes where after the Algerian troops having fought so bravely to defend the village the photographer takes pictures of white troops celebrating with local villages was an excellent way in showing how history has been whitewashed.
Well worth watching.
 A different point of view May 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The war with the eyes of North African french army volountiers. Only good fellows like depicted in the film ? Not in Italy.
a clash of loyalties April 19, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
It was a great idea to show the war through the eyes of colonial troops. Were they patriots or mercenaries? The conflicting emotions are well shown and this excellent film is well constructed although the cemetary at the end is a bit of a cliche. The director does not pretend to political neutrality. He is out to make a point.
I fought alongside the 'goums' [as we called them] in the Liri valley. Their officers were all French andthey were regarded as semi-civilised, although their bravery [savagery?] was admired. There were many rumours - they were paid for the number of German ears they brought in [false] - they were addicted to rape [too often true]. I would be surprised if many of them enlisted for patriotic rather than economic reasons.
 A film that lingers April 10, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Our whole family were moved by this marvellous film, which lingered long after viewing.
Wonderful characterisation ensures you follow and care about the group of North African soldiers fighting for the 'Fatherland'.
Remember this is not just a war movie -though to us the scenes were very realistic-but a film about the way a country treated her colonial subjects.
Thought provoking and excellent.
 Dull dull dull April 5, 2008
1 out of 10 found this review helpful
I watched this whilst in Afghanistan and it bored me to tears (along with my colleagues who didn't even watch the whole film it was that bad).
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